Mumbai Mills was launched in 2012, by Marlien Rietkerk and myself, over a coffee at the Breach Candy Club. I didn’t start out imagining that we would launch a home product business; I actually started out simply wanting to make special party favours for my daughter’s birthday.

While foraging through the market for return presents, I stumbled upon wonderful fabric and decided to make personalised cushions for the girls. My husband, ‘chief artist and designer’ at Mumbai Mills, drew me some lovely butterflies and birds which were appliquéd onto the cushions. Lalana, a dear friend in the printing business, made me canvas name labels, which were also stitched on and hence the first Mumbai Mills product came to be. The cushions sparked commercial interest and the creation of one product led to another.

On Marlien’s return to Holland, I continued on my own. I now make, and also source, several lifestyle products. At Mumbai Mills, We work with unusual materials that tweak our interest -- unbleached cotton, mul, jute, canvas, tin, enamel and beaten steel are amongst our favourites. We also print an agenda (Mumbai Diary 2014/2015/2016 and counting) and make rubber stamps! Along with Sweet Notes, our most recent creation in the Mumbai Colouring Book!

Mumbai Mills has given me the chance to be an independent entrepreneur… to design, create, source, market and sell lifestyle products… products which are simple and each one special.