About

Me and my background

After experiencing a variety of careers ranging from romance novel writer to art museum publicist, I decided it was time to start my own clothing brand. I’m fortunate that my family business was always apparel, so I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. My parents have worked with private labels since before I was born, and I have seen many brands take off throughout the years. This intimate look at the behind the scenes of various small clothing brands has blessed me with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

My family has a clothing factory in India, and I am closely involved with the business there. I enjoy finding new materials and techniques and working to design and manufacture clothing that brings people joy. I try to visit at least once a year for several weeks so I can oversee production and develop new products.

 Why I started Mage of Quills

I always wanted to make clothing featuring nature and folk art-inspired designs, including my own original art. As I got older, I became a more discerning buyer and started having a harder time finding clothes I truly loved and could afford.

Mage of Quills aims to solve several style problems I have run into over the years, including as a teenager who was drawn to alternative fashion but found it limited. I think a lot of other people have also experienced these problems:

  • I want to dress like an elf from Lord of the Rings, but in a way that is convenient for daily activities. I like the intricate details and motifs used in "elven" clothing, but I don't want to deal with fancy dresses and expensive materials on a regular basis. 
  • I want clothes that are reliably comfortable and easy to wear. I prefer to wear sweatshirts, simple dresses, and bike shorts. I’ve long since realized that I always reach for the comfiest clothes that fit the best.
  • I want to see more clothes that fit the aesthetic of "tropical goth." What if fantasy elves were based on South Asian cultures? How can a dark fashion aesthetic be combined with the vibrance of the rainforest?
  • Alternative fashion is overwhelmingly paired with silver, and not gold, which is more common in Asian cultures. I love dressing mostly in black, but I also love bright colors, and gold accents, rather than silver.
  • I want alternative fashion without imagery of crosses and classic Halloween motifs, which aren’t my style. I want to go beyond Western/Christian themes to create clothes that resonate with my cultural identity.

In addition to this, I want to run a business that is truly ethical. Personally, I'm tired of greenwashing and shareholder primacy and other practices which don't prioritize actual life on this planet, as well as the feeling that I always have to keep my eye open for scams.

Climate change and the waste produced by neoliberal capitalism are increasingly making life unliveable; if we are to work towards building an actually sustainable economy, business needs to be done in a radically different way. You can read more about my thoughts on this on my Ethics page.