In an era where speed often overshadows soul, Arth Atelier stands as a reminder that fashion can still hold depth and intention. Designed in Boston and handcrafted in India, the brand was born from what founder Tamanna Mullen describes as a “deep desire to create garments that carry emotional and cultural depth, pieces that feel personal, and rooted, yet global.” It is clothing designed not for the fleeting moment, but for connection.
For Mullen, this connection began long before Arth Atelier took form. She remembers designing her first dress at 13 with her mother, carefully watching as fabric transformed into something meaningful. “Where I’m from, the way of living is slow and intentional,” she reflects. “Clothing for me always meant buying fabric and getting it tailored.” That early understanding of fashion as a deeply personal and tactile process continues to define the label’s essence.
Image credits: Avani Rai
Mullen’s journey through fashion highlighted the disconnect between creation and recognition. She built Arth Atelier as a space to rediscover the fulfilling spirit of garment-making, where “art and craft [hold] equal value.” The brand’s name, derived from the Sanskrit word for “meaning,” serves as a daily reminder of why it exists, to create purpose and connection in what we choose to wear. Every decision, from the way a fabric is sourced to how a seam is hand-finished, carries intention.
At the heart of Arth Atelier is a design ideology that merges East and West into a single, fluid narrative. Mullen calls it “a dialogue between cultural expressions,” the precision of Western tailoring is met with the soul and beauty of Eastern craft. Within this dialogue, minimalism and adornment coexist, structure and drape find harmony, and traditional embroidery techniques are reinterpreted on clean and contemporary silhouettes. The result is clothing that feels timeless yet distinctly of today, designed for the global individual who moves between worlds and identities with ease.
Each piece is created through a meticulous process anchored in three pillars: the art, the craft, and the impact. Transparency lies at the center of this philosophy. Arth Atelier’s garments feature a QR code that reveals their provenance journey. The feature invites the wearer into the story of their clothing, following its path from the fiber’s origin on the farm to the artisan’s hand that shapes the finished piece.
“In a world where misinformation often races ahead of truth,” Mullen notes, “transparency is an antidote that encourages mindful consumption and lifts the curtain a bit on a historically opaque industry.”
That visibility extends to the people themselves. Mullen has always been fascinated by the “spinners, knitters, [and] embroiderers whose artistry and work often goes unseen.” Many of the kaarigars or artisans she works with are fifth or sixth generation masters of techniques that are both endangered and irreplaceable.
Examples of the techniques Arth Atelier incorporates into its garment designs include Aari embroidery, a centuries-old Indian hand embroidery method using a hooked needle for intricate designs, and Chikankari, a 17th-century style known for its delicate, detailed work.
Image credits: Avani Rai
Arth Atelier collaborates closely with these small artisan clusters across India, building relationships based on respect and the creative process. Reinterpretation, for Mullen, is not about nostalgia but about authenticity. Each piece names the craft for what it is, honors its origins, and communicates the hours of handwork invested in its making.
Arth Atelier’s supply chain is equally considered. Materials are chosen not for trend or convenience, but for alignment with the brand’s ethical and environmental standards. Its partnerships range from Italian mills pioneering sustainable wool fabrics to Indian handloom suppliers with multi-generational ties to weavers and growers. One of the brand’s defining materials is NATIVA-certified regenerative merino wool, sourced from farms in Uruguay that uphold high standards of animal welfare, land stewardship, and full blockchain-backed traceability. This partnership, as Mullen explains, allows for an authentic connection and “ensures accountability aligned with [Arth Atelier’s] nature-focused, ethical production philosophy.”
Other fabrics in Arth Atelier’s palette include organic cotton, peace silk, and innovative fibers like lotus and banana, which are derived from agricultural byproducts of the food industry. Each material is introduced through a rigorous intake process that questions the why, the what, and the alternatives. Excess is stripped away. Over-designing is avoided. What remains are garments that embody integrity and lasting value.
Image credits: Avani Rai
Working in this way is not without its challenges. A slower production model requires patience, trust, and detailed coordination. High minimums, long lead times, and the unpredictability of small-scale supply chains can test endurance. Yet Mullen views these constraints as opportunities for collaboration. By treating suppliers as partners rather than vendors, she has uncovered innovative pathways that larger, faster systems often overlook. One such discovery came through a partnership with a Himalayan textile company, where an initial search for khadi cotton led to a pioneering project using banana fiber, transforming crop waste into refined textiles and addressing the widespread issue of agricultural burning in India.
Image credits: Avani Rai
This spirit of innovation is woven into every layer of the brand. Arth Atelier’s recent release of its Hand-Embroidered Merino Wool Cardigan crafted from NATIVA wool exemplifies its approach of merging artistry and heritage with environmental responsibility and innovation. The piece represents the convergence of shared values consisting of care for the land, respect for craftsmanship, and an eye toward the future.
Looking ahead, Arth Atelier will be expanding its knitwear program and soft-tailoring collection. The latter draws inspiration from traditional menswear, interpreted through a unisex lens. Classic pieces such as blazers, trousers, and tailored shorts balance casual street influences but with refined tailoring and embroidery.
The brand is also evolving its custom program, offering one-of-a-kind embroidered pieces made by hand in its New Delhi atelier for those who seek garments that are not only beautiful, but truly personal.
Through its devotion to craft, transparency, and meaning, Arth Atelier has created something rare. Each piece carries the mark of many hands and hearts. It bridges past and present and shows that when art and craft are equally valued, clothing becomes more than what we wear. Every garment tells a story, honors tradition, and looks boldly to the future, proving thoughtful design can transform how we experience fashion.
Image credits: Avani Rai
Presented by: APG
