Ïmaima

Hand-embroidered womenswear from Jaipur

Berlin · Germany

Bahhareh Karimi

“I've always believed in the magic of craftsmanship: the touch of fine embroidery and the stories woven into every piece.”

Bahhareh Karimi, founder

As a girl, ÏMAIMA's founder helped out in her father's small fashion shop in Berlin, and the label still points to that shop as perhaps its very beginning. Today she runs the label and writes its journal herself, in the first person. Much of what she designs is cut for coverage. Sleeves run long and hems often fall to the ankle. The sewing and embroidery happen in Jaipur.

I have three questions for you, and something in return.

Three questions.

Selected pieces

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Ïmaima

Heavy Wool Blend Camel Coat — Straight Cut Single-Breasted

€299ledge price

Ïmaima

Hand-Woven Cotton Maxi Dress — Oversized Modest Dress with Long Sleeves

€189ledge price

Ïmaima

Crushed Velvet Wrap Jacket — Modest Blazer with Belt | Copper

ÏMAIMA Clothing · Berlin, Germany

Beads set and prints stamped by hand

ÏMAIMA is womenswear designed in Berlin and made in Jaipur, where contemporary silhouettes are embroidered by hand and the fabric is often hand-woven or hand block-printed. Its founder and designer, Bahhareh Karimi, started the label in 2017.

The handwork is done in Jaipur, by a team that has worked alongside ÏMAIMA since 2018. On the RAHA coat, beads in varying pastel tones are placed by hand without a fixed pattern, and the label says no two coats come out the same.

Panels for the RAHA coat, laid out on the workshop table

Who does what in the workshop

The work in Jaipur is divided by role. Some of the team do thread-work and filigree embroidery, one handles fitting, and others take on the final touches and quality checks. In one of ÏMAIMA's own films, a young woman from the checking department talks about her two years there. She started out working from home and now works on site.

Two artisans in Jaipur sewing beads and sequins onto a dark green piece

Much of the cloth is hand-woven cotton. Some of it is block-printed, each motif stamped by hand, as on the GOLBAHAR top. Runs are small, 30 to 100 pieces, and the embroidered designs come in editions of up to 20. Fabric is bought only as it is needed.