Made in India: Meet the designer behind eco-chic footwear label MY|RA

Sustainable fashion entrepreneur Myra Agarwal gave new meaning to the term ecological footprint with the launch of her eponymous footwear brand in 2019.

“We recognised a really big gap in the Indian footwear industry. There is a huge mismatch in the three variables [design, comfort and price], which ultimately impact the buying decision,” says Myra, a Marketing & Communication graduate from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology.

With her eyes set on India’s ethical fashion segment, she collaborated with the reputed Central Footwear Training Institute in Chennai, to better understand the market.

The result is MY|RA – a partially vegan, sustainable fashion offering whose trendy footwear designs target the modern, eco-minded consumer. Its artisanal leather products feature embellishments in traditionally painted trims, Swarovski crystals, mother-of-pearl, ceramic beads, macramé and more.

Based in the Capital, the studio employs a dedicated team of 15 artisans who are headed by master craftsmen of Tamil Nadu’s Mahabalipuram region.

The homegrown label is rooted in sustainable practices, which include ethical material sourcing and fair wage policies with a zero-waste goal.

Only organic dyes are used in order to reduce chemical emissions. Moving away from standard shoe boxes with dye on the inside, My|Ra uses eco-friendly packaging. “We currently use all our leather scrap to make shoes for underprivileged children,” she adds.

Myra is set to grow her sustainable fashion e-tail venture (studiomyra.com) against the backdrop of India’s budding ethical consumerism. “Our commitment towards sustainability, leaves a lot of space for innovation, which will be very well appreciated,” she concludes.