Founded in 2016 by designer Andra Clitan, MA RA MI sets its inspiration in the fusion between Romanian traditional costumes with different cultures from around the world. Andra’s passion for craftsmanship goes a long way, starting with her childhood stories and artisan encounters in her native area of Maramures in Transylvania, continuing with extended education at UAD and Central Saint Martins, and teaching at Raffles Design Institute Manila, Philippines and University of Sharjah, UAE, alongside worldwide research travels. Read more about Andra’s projects here. With an emphasis on sustainability, MA RA MI has an important role in preserving traditional techniques and merging influences from different cultures by introducing the latest sartorial approaches and fabrics and empowering self-sufficient and independent communities and artisan practices. OUR STORY
We are proud of our roots and culture, the great heritage of our ancestors, their stories and courage. Working with craftsmen has been the inspiration and motivation behind MA RA MI for over a decade ago. Preserving ancestral crafts is not only the fundament of a nation but also the starting point for contemporary design and multicultural dialog. We praise these values and make them ours by reviving traditional craftsmanship, using elements from traditional cuts and patterns together with modern techniques to tailor them into unique garments that cannot be duplicated. Some of the varied elements you will discover in our creations include felt, hand weaved fabrics and different embroideries, our inspiration starting from Transylvania, and with time growing to include the Middle East, Philippines, Nepal, Armenia, Sri Lanka, Mexico, and more. This journey of authenticity, connecting to our ancestors and rediscovering their crafts, in order to acknowledge, understand and pass it on to future generations is our long term goal, and a work in progress that you’re invited to take part of.
