Pearl Mago founded Liminal as a passion project. It is a sustainable, slow-fashion brand that offers artisanal clothing and accessories in New York. All of their products are small-batch produced in limited runs. Mago’s goal is to revive traditional Indian art forms in modern silhouettes. We had the pleasure of speaking with the designer to gain further insight into her work.
Tell us about your background and what brought you to this point.
While I have been living in New York for over two decades, I grew up in Jaipur, India — a city brimming with rich art, architecture, textiles, cuisine, and music. My family has been in the business of manufacturing and the export of apparel and accessories for nearly forty years. I grew up spending lots of time accompanying them to fabric markets, interacting with artisans, and observing different art forms like tie-dye and hand block. Along the way, I developed a sense of aesthetic and an appreciation for craft and artisans. When I first envisioned Liminal, it wasn’t just about creating beautiful clothing; it was a profound exploration of my roots, a journey of self-discovery, and a celebration of my Indian heritage.
Tell us about how you created your brand by marrying your passion for Indian art forms with New York flair.
Liminal is an extension of me, and “on the threshold” is where I find myself after living in New York all these years — whether it’s the way I dress, live, or raise my family! I go back to India with my three boys every year to visit my family, sometimes more. On these trips, I would custom-make things for myself all the time and often received compliments on the color or patterns, as well as how I styled it. As we were coming out of the pandemic in 2022, I knew I wanted to create something artful, purposeful, and timeless, all while giving back. In a sense, I had found my Ikigai.
You spent time growing up at fabric markets interacting with artisans. Can you tell us about this experience and how it influenced you and your work?
I went to boarding at MGD School in Jaipur. When I came home for holidays and weekends, I accompanied my mother everywhere. Not only did I have such an immersive experience getting to learn about the local crafts, including various types of embroideries and different printing techniques and dyeing processes, I also spent time with artisans and their families. I saw how they lived and how generational their work was. The skills and techniques all passed down to the next generation as custodians of heritage and craft.
Can you talk about the process of creating your pieces and how they’re crafted by hand?
I wanted to create modern-day heirlooms that are feminine and classic in style. Created for multigenerational use and can be worn across occasions and seasons year after year. I don’t believe in fast fashion or transient trends. In an effort to keep the arts alive and give back to the artisan community, I wanted to borrow from my deep heritage and decided to highlight different art forms per collection.
The first collection, Dawn, was released in the fall of 2022. I went with a very soft transitional palette for the colors — dusty pink, light taupe, ecru cream, and watery blue. The soft pastel palette needed something delicate, and I decided to go with Lucknowi chikankari hand embroidery. It is said to have been brought to India by the Mughals in the 2nd century B.C. Often seen in Indian traditional wear for men and women, it was the perfect art form for Dawn.
The new collection, Reverie, features a luxurious hand weave from the state of Rajasthan in India. Lightweight and airy, these pieces are perfect for travel and warm summer days. Further enhanced with hand-smocking and hand-block motifs and prints that have been skillfully hand-carved by artisans in India. This collection is a reminiscence of my childhood summers in Rajasthan.
Please share with us the impact of your partnership with the Dhara Shakti Foundation in Jaipur, India.
DSF is close to my heart as it is run by a young entrepreneur in Jaipur (where I grew up). I wanted to give back to the local community where I learned it all, and the work for Liminal is done primarily. DSF is committed to transformative change with a primary focus on women’s empowerment and youth development. A part of our proceeds go directly to the foundation. Most recently, we helped with a program focused on menstrual health hygiene education and provided reusable sanitary pads that last up to two years.
Where can we find your pieces on the East End?
I have been focusing on small and intimate trunk shows for Liminal. We are going to be popping up at Hampton Vintage on June 23 in Amagansett and Westhampton Beach on July 8. A private trunk show is in the works. Signing up for our newsletter and Instagram would be the best way to stay in the loop about new product launches, events, etc.
