6 Labels that Turn Memory into Design

The creation of any object, especially one that holds significance to design or fashion, often comes from a personal space. Memory especially plays a big role in these creative processes where people, experiences and even the fragment of a moment from the past, are transformed into something tangible. For some designers, these recollections become a way of preserving what might otherwise fade.
 
soft-geometry
All about finding comfort in softness in a world growing harsher by the day, soft-geometry founders Utharaa L Zacharias and Palaash Chaudhary’s philosophy is shaped by life in India, a poetic culture committed to individual expression, layered and delightfully imperfect craft and storytelling above functionality. The immigrant experience in the USA has emphasised their interest in interpreting culture through design and their dreaming of a soft, handcrafted future in contemporary design.
 
Kalawi & Co.
Kalawi & Co. came to life as a memory, as something much more than just a business. In our conversation with the founder Anjali Tiwari, she shares, ‘long before there was a name, a logo, or a product, there was a quiet inner revelation that adornment could be sacred, that jewelry could carry emotion, energy, and lineage, not just form.’ After Anjali’s grandmother Kalawati passed away, there was an ache to give her life again; not in memory alone, but in creation. Kalawi carries her name, her grace, her strength, and her quiet authority. It became a way of keeping her presence alive, embodied in something protected, nurtured, and held with fierce loyalty.

Maison Megh
Founded by Meghna Ratra, Maison Megh’s jewelry grew from the founder’s observations of her mother. While growing up, she was surrounded by her mother wearing very statement silver pieces, from traditional filigree and florals to bold, sculptural forms she picked up while travelling the world. The idea of Maison Megh comes from her, because when she thinks of her mother, she thinks of silver. Meghna always knew she wanted to work with metal, and when she finally put pen to paper, what started flowing out were jewelry designs.
 
The Manjapai Collective
A collective that grew from a desire to re-design the traditional Tamil manjapai, Raajadharshini and Sangami, the founders began their endeavor to pay homage to the history and social significance of simple design around us. ‘Growing up, we saw it as something outdated and something associated with an older  generation. But as we began questioning systems of value, we started understanding that ideas  of what is ‘beautiful,’ ‘fashionable,’ or ‘desirable’ are not neutral and they are shaped by social  and cultural structures. The Manjapai became a way to examine these ideas. It made us think about how objects gain or  lose value, and how our relationship with them changes over time.’

RESCHA Paris
RESCHA Paris is a luxury fashion brand that explores the experience of living between French and Indian cultures through personal narratives and heritage textile techniques. Built on the foundations of identity and artisanship, Charlotte Chowdhury’s collections reflect a deep engagement with craft. The name comes from the Hindi word ‘Resha,’ meaning yarn, and every piece is created from carefully chosen yarns, exclusively using deadstock and sustainable fibers. It is an ode to the memory of India, with a blend of multiculturalism.
 
AMESH
Celebrated for his eclectic use of colour and craft textiles, AMESH blends artisanal techniques in hand-weaving, knitting and crochet with repurposed pre-consumer waste from Sri Lanka’s apparel industry to create trans-seasonal, gender-fluid pieces. His work draws inspiration from Sri Lankan heritage, childhood memories, and the island’s multicultural landscapes.

Words Platform Desk
Date 1.9.2026