ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Over a cup of coffee at Warm Waves in Alpharetta, resident Monika Mittal described how she creates each of her scarf collections.
The designs in Alora, her brand, are taken from Mittal’s acrylic paintings, largely featuring colorful birds and flowers, washed with a medium that allows the work to resemble water color.
Like a journal entry, she said each collection is an impression of her travels abroad — her next will be based on her time in Norway, though some feature her own backyard, like Georgia hummingbirds.
“Each of the scarves is associated with some place,” Mittal said, referencing London as she pulled out a scarf featuring English roses. “London is famous for its roses … In India growing up, I loved roses. The best rose that people would say is the English rose.”
Mittal has two collections featured on her online shop, each using six paintings, and she is beginning to collaborate with other artists to have their paintings featured through Alora, which is Mittal’s 20-year plan.
The site also features kaftans, worn like a loose dress, as well as winged tops and crop tops. She has added other items like paper products and belts, which can be used as bandanas, in her pop-ups.
Versatility is a key aspect to her brand, being able to wear one scarf in multiple ways and giving a familiar outfit a boost. Mittal said scarves allow her to cater to people who want a unique style every day.
With only a carry-on for a two-week trip in Europe, Mittal said she looked fabulous almost every day because of the three scarves she brought. The fabric is mostly satin, wrinkle-free and light, suitable for long trips.
Images are often symbols in Mittal’s work, representing concepts like freedom that harken back to her upbringing in Pilkhuwa, a small town in India.
While Mittal was surrounded by conservative…
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