handicrafts

Raised in a conservative family, Sudharani Marndi broke the mould to pursue art over a conventional career. From a small-time creator to an entrepreneur, she turned her hobby into ‘Jhunuk Crafts’, a thriving business with domestic and international orders — earning both income and her family’s respect.

From sustainable pet accessories to impactful collaborations with animal welfare organisations, IndieGood is leading a movement to make better choices for pets, people, and the planet.

From the ancient craft villages of Bagru to modern homes, Punit Agarwal and Chandni Gupta have founded Aurum Crafts, a brand that specialises in handcrafted wooden kitchenware, hand-painted by local artisans.

Women artisans from rural India often fail to receive fair pay due to lack of technical know-how. A digital upskilling initiative by Nasscom Foundation and L&T Technology Services is enabling them to expand their businesses online, leading to increased earnings and financial independence.

With Chappers, Pune entrepreneur Harshvardhan Patwardhan is giving new and customisable spins to traditional Kolhapuri chappals, selling across US, UK and more, and earning crores.

After graduation, designer Burhan ud din Khateeb launched Studio Kalib to give eco-friendly and modern spins to Kashmir’s traditional craft, making unique handiwork like bluetooth speakers, chicken coops, furniture, bags, and more.

Kavya Saxena, who left her lucrative job in Gurugram to live in India’s tribal villages, shares what she has learned from their culinary practices and history, and how she’s working to empower the people she has met along the way.

Gaatha, an organisation established by three National Institute of Design (NID) graduates, preserves the work of traditional craftspersons by telling their stories, and engaging in in-depth research and archival work.

Saima Shaifi, popularly known as Kral Koor, quit her engineering job to take up pottery, becoming one of the first few in Kashmir to bring the art back in a modern form.

The Union Ministry of Textile released two separate notifications on July 27 and August 3 to announce the abolition of the All India Handicraft Board and All India Handloom Board (AIHB).