Friendship Day pe yellow flower and Valentine’s Day pe red rose to ham sab ne diye hain. But how many of us kept them as keepsakes?
At that time, most of us did, but then life happens and wo kitab jisme wo phool tha, it went either to kabadi wala or is lost in the tides of time.
Yaad aaya? 😉
In today’s digital world, when we send pictures of flowers over social media to wish, Bhuvaneshwari M from Chennai, India, is preserving real flowers through her venture House of Murah.
Established in 2024, by this ex-Infosys trainee (by profession) and designer (at heart), House of Murah changes floral keepsakes into sustainable clothing using eco-printing. She makes shirts, lehengas, and sarees but, most importantly, her products preserve memories—forever.
And man, the end results are beautiful. 💞
Early Life and Background
Growing up under strict and traditional expectations, Bhuvaneshwari was a dedicated student who pursued engineering to fulfill her family’s wishes.
But her heart lies somewhere else—colors, the art of designing, and crafts.
During her school days, she used to draw on the blackboard.
Other than that, she crafted handmade gifts and greeting cards. However, after completing her schooling, Bhuvaneshwari pursued computer science engineering.
WHY?
Abba nahin manege, or family nahi manengi. We know how it is.
But as the saying goes, whatever happens, happens for good, engineering turned as a blessing for Bhuvaneshwari. During her university days in RMD Engineering College, she met Suriya Murali (her future husband) and Aparna (her best friend). They both turned out to be her greatest supporters.
Aparna became her solace and soul sister, who identified a spark for designing in Bhuvaneshwari. Her support motivated our not-so-happy engineer to follow her dreams, instead of marrying early as per societal norms.
Grabbing the Right Opportunity
During her 7th semester, Bhuvaneshwari got double placements in Wipro and Infosys. She joined as a trainee at Infosys in Mysuru.
Her POV in doing this?
She wants to be financially independent first, then follow the path towards her dream. Asking her family for money to support her fashion career was not an option she was willing to take.
She knew how it felt to earn because, during her college days, she was tutoring high school students. Saving up that money, she got her first sewing machine.
Inspirational 🥹
Eventually, with time, Bhuvaneshwari gathered courage and shared her decision with her parents: to pursue fashion at NIFT Chennai.
This changed everything, and she never regrets an ounce of it.
How She Got Inspired to Establish House of Murah?
Yeh un dino ki bat hai, in 2020, jab Suriya gifted her a bouquet. A desire to preserve it developed in her.
This encouraged her to explore different options, and she learned about resin preservation, but the process has its limitations. After some time, resin’s color started turning yellowish and losing its aesthetic appeal. Plus, its chemicals affect the lungs, and this inspired her to look for sustainable options.
Next occasion was her wedding in 2023 when she felt the urge to preserve the essence of that day. This time, she was looking for options to make the end product more useful rather than just a showpiece.
She was familiar with eco-printing technique but didn’t consider its use for flower preservation—until then. Eco-printing is an artistic and sustainable technique to transfer the natural shapes and essence of flowers onto paper or fabric.
She attended workshops to learn the techniques, tips, and tricks related to eco-printing and successfully preserved her wedding flowers as a shirt, kurta, and a saree.
Amazing 👏🏼
The Realization and the Passion
This was the eureka moment for her and Suriya, who kept pushing her to try this as a full-time venture.
3 months went in the blink of an eye while she experimented with different fabrics and dyeing techniques. She invested important resources, her time, and her heart to fully understand the process.
Finally, House of Murah was established, and the brand’s name in itself shows her affection towards her in-laws Murali and Amudha.
The brand’s launch date is not any less important because 1st February marks the day when the couple had their first phone conversation. Awwww! 💝
The brand’s entire existence is a living example of preserving and cherishing memories. 🥹
How Do They Transform Memories?
Customers hand over the flowers, which are then sent for the quality check to ensure there is no mold or fungus.
Eco-printing involves several steps—beginning with scouring and mordanting the fabric—the fabric is prepared, and flowers are arranged carefully.
Flower arrangement is a crucial aspect of creating beautiful patterns, and sometimes, marigolds are also added to enhance the aesthetic appeal.
Then, the flower-patterned fabric is soaked for 24 hours. After that, it is steamed, dried, and naturally dyed. Finally, it is customized as per client’s specifications.
Typically, the final product is delivered within 4 weeks, but the company gives a timeline of 6 to 8 weeks to match the changing demands of customers, if any.
Following the Strategically Priced Technique
While preserving memories, Bhuvaneshwari doesn’t play with prices. Her products begin at an affordable price of Rs 1,400 and go up to Rs 16,00 based on the type of fabric and dyes used.
No hidden charges.
But the customers are least concerned about the cost when the end products are a treat for the eyes.
Moreover, Bhuvaneshwari’s personal interaction with her customers adds another layer of trust which led to purely online transactions without any website.
With its skilled and dedicated team, House of Murah effectively completed 200 orders in 2024, catering to both national and international clients. All this, while maintaining profitability and no over-charging.
What’s Next?
Bhuvaneshwari aims to open her own physical store in the coming years, now that she has innovatively and successfully turned her passion for fashion and her heartfelt sensitivity into a thriving business. Go girl, you can do it.
Preserve your memories @HouseofMurah
