Namai is an independent, New York-based fashion brand founded by Bianca Kuttickattu in 2020. We create timeless, zero-waste clothing from repurposed antique Indian textiles that can be worn by people of all genders, all year round.
Namai garments are designed to outlive transient seasonal trends. Each one-of-a-kind piece has already stood the test time: all of our items are made from second-hand Kantha quilts sourced in Jaipur.
Kantha quilting is the traditional Bengali craft of patching together and embroidering cloth and saris. By the time our designs are sewn, our fabric is on its third life-cycle and has passed through the hands of generations of women.
By combining the high-impact colors and patterns of our materials with low impact production, Namai looks towards a future of fashion that is earth-friendly, while celebrating the unique history embedded in every piece.
Meet Our Founder: Bianca Kuttickattu
Born in England to artist parents, Bianca Kuttickattu’s childhood inspired a creative practice founded on a reverence for the natural world and the joy of making things by hand.
"My career in fashion grew from an early love of thrifting for vintage clothes and second-hand treasures at local markets. I wanted to bring that spirit of playful discovery into the design process."
The desire to create new garments by thoughtfully repurposing preexisting textiles led her to pursue fashion at Middlesex and complete a master’s degree at the Institut Francais de la Mode in Paris. After graduating, she interned with an NGO in Rio de Janeiro to create a collection of sustainable clothing in partnership with women living in favelas, and worked in the Martin Margiela Couture Workshop making limited-edition pieces from recycled materials, including old vinyl records.
Bianca has built an impressive career designing footwear for leading fashion houses including Celine, Acne and Rag & Bone. These formative experiences influenced the global outlook and commitment to zero-waste production that defines Namai.
On a work hiatus during the pandemic in 2020 and splitting her time between Brooklyn and a small mountain village in upstate New York, Bianca found herself reconnecting with the simple pleasures of her early years: spending time in nature, and returning to the art of crafting things slowly, with care and intention.
After witnessing the amount of waste generated by the commercial fashion industry, Bianca founded Namai with the aim of creating one-of-a-kind pieces from pre-loved materials and embracing the beauty of clothing with a past life.
The choice to work exclusively with antique Indian textiles was also a deeply personal one: raised primarily by her mother in England and Canada before moving to New York as an adult, Bianca had little connection to her father’s family in Kerala. Designing on her first range for Namai, she felt intuitively drawn towards the colors and fabrics of saris as a way to reclaim a lost part of her own identity. By partnering with local artisans in India, Bianca honors the traditional craftsmanship of her ancestors. Namai is her celebration of heritage, sustainable fashion and timeless design.
We believe that ethical fashion consumption begins with responsible production.
By creating our garments using entirely pre-existing, third-generation materials we honor our commitment to zero-waste design and circular sustainability.
Each garment is designed in New York and then handcrafted in a family-run tailoring workshop in India. Producing one small order at a time allows us to foster strong, personal relationships with local artisans and ensure all of our tailors receive a fair wage. We make the most of our fabric by using offcuts to make pouches, bags and accessories.
We strive to make clothing that outlasts traditional consumption cycles, and assign its value based on the enduring quality of the materials, craftsmanship and fair labor practices. Our products do not go on sale. Every piece is intended to be loved and lived in for years to come.
Namai garments have a rich history and long life-span, and we hope you will be inspired to continue their story by making them your own.
