As steady and robust centres for the sale of Indian artisanal crafts, melas (market fairs) have been held across India for over 1300 years. They are a part of many consumers’ landscape of nostalgia, almost everyone brought up in India can attest to attending at least one.

Craft Today: The Artisan & Innovation

This is the first in a three-part series looking at path-breaking weaving facilities in different stages of development across the country. Part I looks at The Handloom School in Maheshwar.
Over the last few seasons, kala cotton - a strain indigenous to India - has made an appearance across a few designers collections, enough to provoke curiosity in its re-emergence.
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Potentially Revolutionary
By Suniti Ila Rao
Khadi and Denim: two fabrics of distinct origins, histories and constitutions are now woven together in an inconspicuous but potentially significant marriage. One of the most exciting textile developments, this pairing is making inroads into the billion-dollar denim mar…
We first released this Manifesto in Dec 2016, it spoke to 11 points we felt were important to address for ‘textiles and garments’ made in India. We've revised it for 2019 to encompass design and craft, with additional notes and signatories.
Our research for Karigar articles require an intimate look at the craft economy. Our references are numerous, though we are especially thankful to our content partners. Their generosity of time and connections allows us a unique vantage with which to communicate innova…
I am uneasy with perceived dichotomies of traditional/modern, ethnic/contemporary, because they imply some judgment - traditional and ethnic is considered old or bad while modern and contemporary is believed to be good.
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