Siobhan, Minneapolis Store Manager, on Mehera Shaw Clothing

June 23, 2009

Is there a way to lean back against the wall we have hit in our economy and strike an attractive pose? Might we find novel ways to look outstanding against such a grey backdrop? Let me tell you, those black and brown outfits won’t pop much against that aforementioned wall. That haute tough smirk won’t take you far this year when what we all crave is a genuine smile. What we need now is some color, some fun and delight.

In brighter times, when options and ideas were more profuse, it seemed sensible and somehow grounding to look hard-edged. In the midst of disposable incomes and trends those black outfits appeared nonchalant and stoic, a grand contrast to the hyper-stimulation of advertising and the burgeoning mass media. As the nineties crept forward through the millennium fashion embraced darker and darker cloth and attitudes that continued right through into recent years. The culmination came in skull-and-crossbones motifs in the strangest places- on baby clothes for example. Finally we started to see so much black polish and grey fabric that the nonchalance began to metamorphose into plain negativity, perhaps an uncanny prelude to the recent crash.

So the worst has happened, or so some would say. Here we are rebuilding and reframing our perceptions. Now, rather than a makeover for our home and a new wardrobe every season, we might just be able to commit to one or two new pieces of clothing every few months. Personally I want those pieces to be uplifting and graceful. I want them to be high quality, investment pieces that won’t quickly date and that justify the time I took in selecting them. Mehera Shaw offers clothing that is elegant and classic, with just enough whimsy to make the pieces feminine, and enough color to lift any black mood. The delightful variety of prints are examples of age-old traditions of printing and dyeing, making luxury and history accessible and most of all- wearable.

The tightening of purse-strings has also made many people more conscious of the Global Community and has given us a chance to pause and reflect on what we might do to be better citizens. I find, with less money to spend, I generally make far more conscious and conscientious decisions and think much more carefully about where that money goes when I sign it over. It is time well spent to find places like Mehera Shaw who are committed to Fair Trade and to ecologically sound practices. It comes as a relief to know that I am doing as little harm as possible and maybe even helping someone by considering more carefully where my dollar goes.
This is the perfect time to embrace the beauty that is ours to claim. It is a time to find charm in good company, artistry in that well-prepared dinner and pleasure in smelling the proverbial roses. In the midst of these shaky times I hope, as women, we can still find ways to celebrate and show ourselves in a new light. We need to take responsibility and be the beauty we want around us, be the happiness we still feel, and manifest these ideas not just in our attitudes but in our outer appearances as well.


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Fit/Sizing/Care

FIT

Our styles are meant to give room to breath and move.  We use fine tailoring coupled with a relaxed, comfortable fit.

We use a fit guide for each of our styles to provide more information about the fit that was intended.

Slim Fit: a close fit to the body. Regular Fit: a comfortable, relaxed fit with room around the body. Generous Fit: a very loose fit (such as in our oversized blouses) with lots of room around the body for ease of movement.

SIZING

h4XS/ 36

h4S/ 38

h4M/40

h4L/ 42

h4XL/44

h4chest

h435.5 inches/ 90 cm

h437.5 inches/95 cm

h439.5 inches/ 100 cm

h441.5 inches/ 105 cm

h444.5 inches. 113 cm

h44cm extra from body

h4waist

h426 inches/ 66 cm

h428 inches/ 71 cm

h430 inches/ 76 cm

h432 inches/ 81 cm

h435 inches/ 89 cm

h4fitted

h4low waist

h428 inches/71 cm

h430 inches/76 cm

h432 inches/ 81 cm

h434 inches/ 86 cm

h437 inches/ 94 cm

h4fitted

h4hip

h437 inches/ 94 cm

h439 inches/ 99 cm

h441 inches/ 104 cm

h443 inches/ 109 cm

h446 inches/ 1

h44cm extra from body

WASHCARE

All garments have been washed several times during the printing/dyeing and manufacturing process.  

CARE for 100% cotton

We recommend cold water machine wash (up to 30 degrees celsius) with a bio detergent and either tumble dry on low heat or line dry in shade for all of our 100% cotton garments/homewares (except for quilts).  

Iron on reverse side of garment following fabric settings.  

Do not use bleach or stain remover.

Cold water wash and low heat drying or line drying in the shade will increase the life of the garment, prolong the vibrancy of the colors and reduce energy use. Shrinkage on all cottons is minimal, approximately 3%.

Garments/homewares are dyed or printed using AZO free, low-impact, pigment or reactive dyes unless otherwise noted.  These dyes are color-fast, but care should still be taken to wash with like colors to retain the vibrancy of the colors.

CARE for 100% cotton quilts

For quilts with cotton fill, we recommend spot or light surface cleaning only with a damp cloth and mild detergent.  Eco-friendly dry cleaning is also recommended. 

CARE for herbal/vegetable dye items

Vegetable dyes are not colorfast and are specifically marked in the product description.  We strongly recommend that all vegetable dye products be washed once before use in a cold water wash with minimal detergent.  Wash separately. Tumble dry on low heat or line dry in shade.  Iron on reverse side.  Do not use bleach or stain remover.

Please keep in mind that indigo dye does continually fade over time.  This is the nature of true indigo dye and is not a defect, but rather a sign of the 'living' nature of the dye.

CARE for silk and cotton/silk

For our silk and cotton silk garments/homewares, we also recommend gentle cycle machine wash cold water (up to 30 degrees celsius) or delicate hand washing to increase the life of the garment and reduce the environmental footprint from energy use, detergents and water wastage.  

Tumble dry on low heat or line dry in shade.  

Iron on reverse side of garment following fabric settings.

Do not use bleach or stain remover.

Dry cleaning using an eco-friendly service is also recommended.

CARE for linen and cotton/linen

For our linen and cotton linen garments/homewares, we also recommend gentle cycle machine wash cold water (up to 30 degrees celsius) or delicate hand washing to increase the life of the garment and reduce the environmental footprint from energy use, detergents and water wastage.  

Tumble dry on low heat or line dry in shade.  

Iron on reverse side of garment following fabric settings.

Do not use bleach or stain remover.