We recently connected with Jigisha Darbha and have shared our conversation below.

Jigisha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Ever since I started my journey with textiles, I have dreamt of creating a space that would offer a calm environment to discover thoughtfully-made, artisanal work that would bring awareness around generational craftsmanship and craft heritage. The broader intention was to invite the community to learn about the meticulous processes behind the making of handcrafted textiles and appreciate the workmanship. I spent many years exhibiting my work at craft fairs and a couple of galleries before deciding on a more permanent platform to display my work – Ji | The Atelier in Oakland. My time and experience at those shows as well as the number of interactions with fellow creators made me appreciate the similarities in perception and vision we share across mediums. It was then only natural that I also invite and feature the works of other artists and designers at The Atelier.

I felt that it is more relevant now more than ever to embrace a slower approach to living, and I hoped to add and curate the space with timeless handcrafted homewares and everyday objects that call attention to artistry, practicality and choice of materials. Its been a worthwhile venture for me because everyday I get an opportunity to draw the attention of the community to sustainable practices of small businesses, a more connected living and the cultural heritage of various parts of the world. In addition, I learn about the wonderful makers of our region and their approaches to their craft.

Jigisha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been practicing textile design for 5 years, and now I own a brick and mortar in Oakland. Prior to that, I was a computational biologist and spent a considerable amount of time in academia, researching fungal pathogens in different labs in Europe. There came a point when research and academia no longer felt like my calling and during a transition period, between one career position to another, I quit the field to pursue a creative passion.

I grew up in a very creative environment, both at home and school in India, and I often found myself to be drawn to craft and art. I dedicated more time to projects like batik murals, embroidery and carpentry than any of the other classes as a teenager. But like the average student in my culture of the time, a career in art was not a path one often pursued. I ended up studying computational biology.

Textiles happened quite serendipitously. During the transition period I mentioned above, I traveled back to India and I dabbled in old, creative hobbies like textile painting, which made me curious to explore textile craft clusters in the area. I came across several weaver cooperatives in the rural areas surrounding my parents’ home. That discovery really set things off. I would curate handwoven fabrics and create functional products out of them with the help of a seamstress. I found an audience that was interested in my work at craft fairs and online.

After a while, I felt that I needed to get some hands-on experience with textile techniques to be able to communicate with artisans effectively in order to have my designs brought to life. I moved to New Delhi for several weeks and learned to block print, dye with synthetic and natural dyes. From there I tried to create more learning opportunities for myself by traveling across the country and staying in remote regions with artisans to explore resist dyeing and hand-weaving.

I started Ji after that in the US in 2018. I used to make my own scarves using a very intensive resist-dyeing process for a while before realizing that I was stretching myself too thin, wearing all the hats to run a business. I eventually scoped out artisans who could execute my designs, and I filled in gaps of production delays by curating products for my brand. After many years of showing my work at craft fairs, I opened a brick and mortar in Montclair village in Oakland to display my designs as well as those of other creatives. Additionally I consult on small design projects.

Reflecting on the years that passed by, I am proud of my perseverance and commitment to advocating for more mindful consumption through my textiles and ensuring high biodegradable content in the materials I work with. I approach my curation process at The Atelier in a similar fashion, engaging with artists and designers that create thoughtfully in small batches as well as providing a platform to like-minded creators.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I did not consciously employ a strategy for growing my clientele. I place a lot of importance on the quality and functionality of a product, and it is very important to me that they adapt to and endure the test of time. I stay away from short-term trends and share the stories behind each product that I carry – who makes them, the techniques employed, what makes them special. These aspects helped me gain the trust of my customers, who in turn spread the word and the cycle repeats. It is a slow and steady process, but it’s been worthwhile. Other means of brand awareness are known channels such as social media, newsletters and occasional events at my brick and mortar.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

I create some of my textile products in my studio in Berkeley, and I partner with artisan families to have my designs executed through handloom weaving and block printing. Finding the right partners is challenging, especially when the physical distance is great. It took me a number of years, a lot of travel as well as several rounds of trial and error before I found a good fit. There are a small handful of artisans and companies that form my core group, whom I trust with the quality, skill and execution – I spend time with them each year and together we come up with small collections of functional textile products including throws, scarves, paper products, bags and other home linens. Every now and then I collaborate with new craft groups for product development, and sometimes it is not a good match for multiple reasons. It is a cycle, and once I find a good collaborator, I tend to partner with them on an annual basis.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jiclothingliving.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ji.the.atelier