Museum Of Wonders
Surreal I Free Expression I Artisanal
A series of Wearable Art Stories,
Celebrating the bond between children and the earth
Narrated through hand embroidery
'aagghhoo' is a slow and essentialist baby brand on a journey to raise eco-aware children. The "Museum of Wonders" collection was born after the 2021 covid lockdown, drawing inspiration from how children cope with challenging times.
As the sole designer assisting the founder at aagghhoo, I passionately embarked on it’s creation, exploring my creative abilities across a diverse range of roles and responsibilities.
My Role
Product Design
Sourcing
Sourcing
Sampling
Production Management
Packaging Design
Styling & Photography
Content Writing
Social Media Management
Costing
Project Length
May - Oct, 2021
Team
Suresh (tailor)
Ramzaan (embroidery artisan)
Amu, Agastya, Tara (kid artists)
Saloni Mehta
Mentor
Navdeep Kaur
Concept Note
"When I look at the world through your eyes,
The world is full of wonders!"
Children are naturally curious. Finding joy in the ordinary; their excitement and spirit of adventure: inspires us every day!
'Museum of Wonders’ celebrates children, who are symbols of joy, hope and healing for everyone around them! It is a collection of wearable art stories portraying experiences that are created by children in immersing in the bounty of earth. Enter their world where trees grant wishes, happy fish play, and mama bee, baby bee visit a friend…
Process
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I started out by collecting artworks created by children and delving into the narratives behind each piece. The studio's youngest member, 4-year-old Tara, played an integral role in inspiring this collection with her whimsy narrated through paints and crayons.
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Using these charming characters from Tara and other little ones as my starting point, I embarked on the journey of bringing them to life on fabric.
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I sketched the characters onto paper, imagining them in vibrant hues of colorful threads and intricate embroidery stitches.
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To execute the embroidery process skillfully, I collaborated with the talented artisan, Ramzaan. His craftsmanship breathed life into these designs.
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The combined efforts of this creative journey resulted in the 'Museum of Wonders' collection, cherishing the innocence and imagination of children while celebrating the artistry of embroidery!
The Wishing Tree
Everything little Tara wishes for
Grows upon her wishing tree;
She loves the colour yellow,
And tall, windy trees.
‘Look! Yellow mangoes!!”,
Tara exclaims with glee,
And some sweet, red cherries too
That she would love to eat!
Bee Gees
Agastya has a story to share
Of a bright blue bee
Dancing in his garden.
Waiting for her friends:
The yellow Mama and baby bee
To join her garden dance!
Poochchi Kano
Three little funny Poochchis
Walking around with
Their many, many legs.
Behind them is their amma
Taking care of her
Naughty, little kids!
To Be A Fish
Round and long, big and small,
Racing in all directions;
Always playing and dancing
In water with their friends,
Amu watches in awe
And wonders,'How fun it must be
To be a fish!'
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Final Products
'Heal' Textile Mending Kit
A starter kit consisting of fabric bits, embroidered fabric patches, hand sewing essentials to introduce parents and children to the world of mending. This kit would serve as a medium for a child to express their imagination while caring for the planet!
What Did I Learn
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The process of creating this collection was really enriching for me. Working with children, listening to their funny incidents, getting engrossed in their real imaginary world reminded me of the beauty of small joys in life.
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As the sole designer on this project, I encountered significant challenges in project management. Juggling various tasks and coordinating with the artisan led to unexpected delays, which taught me the complexities of managing a small business.
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Moving forward, I realise the importance of prioritizing tasks based on their significance and being assertive in saying 'no' to additional responsibilities to avoid overcommitment. To improve project organization, I plan to create more realistic timelines, allowing for buffer days to accommodate unexpected work and potential delays. This will lead to better overall efficiency and smoother execution in future endeavors.
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Translating the artworks into embroidered patches was challenging as I had to consider the properties of the stitches and the placement of patches to ensure the clothing is comfortable and functional for children, teaching me the importance of ergonomic design.
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I really enjoyed writing poetic narratives to share these stories with people, and crafting the website and social media descriptions made me realize the importance of storytelling in effectively communicating my ideas.