ARTISANS OF INDIA
Fair pay. Direct partnership. Crafting artisan futures.
ZAHID ANSARI, MIRZAPUR | RAMKRISHNA KUMAR, JODHPUR
We work alongside artisans like Zahid Ansari from Mirzapur, UP and Ramkrishna Kumar from Bishnoi, Jodhpur to translate cultural stories and artistic visions into patterns. They are artisans from small cluster groups who have learnt the skills passed down from generations within their communities. They have started young and spent years honing the craft, learning to execute complex geometric or floral motifs. They are known to sit at looms for hours, painstakingly weaving thousands of individual threads per square inch. This focus is often described by weavers as a meditative practice — a space where they can “forget their worries.”
Four intricate stages an artisan goes through while making your rug :
Carding & Spinning - Artisans clean and layer raw wool fibers, using a traditional spinning wheel (charkha) to create consistent, high-quality yarn.
Dyeing - Yarn is wound onto frames and submerged in boiling vats of dye to achieve deep, vibrant colours. It is then hung under the sun to dry.
Weaving - Following ancient panja weaving techniques, the artisans work with the warp (vertical foundation threads) and weft (horizontal, coloured design threads) are interlaced to create flat, sturdy, and reversible rugs. This phase can sometimes take anywhere from weeks to over a year for complex, high-density rugs.
Finishing - The rug undergoes Gulzarash (a technique to accentuate motifs through high-low texture), followed by careful washing, trimming, stretching, and edge-binding to ensure durability and a polished finish.
We love this sort of real and raw collaboration between our designs and their craftsmanship.
FADEN SINGH RAWAT, NAINITAL
We are huge fans of minimalist and modern designs. We visualised a few designs imagining simple symmetry and black soil. We sketched a few designs on our iPad and discussed possibilities with Mr.Singh. We love when artisans sound affirmative and equally excited with bringing our ideas to life! We first met Mr. Singh at one of Mumbai's largest exhibitions and took off from there.
The process of transforming raw, earth-hewn serpentine clay into functional art is a rhythmic, sensory experience that begins in the quiet focus of our artisan — Faden Singh Rawat’s workspace in Nainital.
Preparation and Shaping - They begin by wedging the clay — a dense, olive-to-emerald hued material known for its signature flecks of magnesium silicate. As they work the clay on a motorised wheel, the hum of the machine is the only sound.
Our artisans put steady pressure, coaxing the clay into wide, shallow basins. The rim is carefully refined, often left with a soft, organic bevel that emphasises the weight and tactile quality of the stone-like material, turning the shapeless clay into a beautiful fruit bowl.
The focus shifts to geometric precision when it comes to our candle holders. Faden Singh centres a smaller mound, pinching and sculpting the clay into thick, tapered cylinders or faceted pedestals designed to cradle a standard taper or tea light candle.
Texturing and Refining - Before the pieces reach the bone-dry state, he employs wire loops and wooden ribs to shave away excess material. This is where the “Serpentine” character shines; as the surface is smoothed, the clay reveals subtle, marbled striations that mimic the metamorphic rock for which it is named. The fruit bowl might be left with subtle “throwing rings” on the exterior, offering a balanced contrast to the polished interior.
The Firing Process - once the forms are complete, he slow-dries it to prevent cracking — a crucial step given the density of the clay. They are then placed in a kiln for a high-temperature bisque fire. During this transformation, the clay vitrifies and deepens from a muted dusty hue to a rich, mossy, or deep tone.
The final result is a collection of cool, polished pieces that catches the light, making them both durable, elegantly understated and we love it!
JUNMONI DAS, ASSAM
If you have ever been to Assam, you know their people are gentle, polite and extremely humble. We chose to work with a lady artisan who was impeccable in her work. We decided we had to create a small capsule collection using her skills.
Working with Junmoni Das from Assam and her high quality bamboo planters that bring a perfect balance in strength and flexibility. The process begins by stripping the bamboo into uniform, smooth ribbons — this is what ensures the planter has that consistent, professional finish you see in the photo.
As she weaves, she uses a classic, tight over-under pattern that creates a sturdy, durable wall. This style is not just for beauty; it also ensures the planter holds its cylindrical shape firmly while remaining breathable for the plants. She works entirely by eye and touch, feeling the tension of every strand to make sure there are no gaps or weak points.
The Selection of Bamboo - Selectively choosing the material from the forest and adding the spirit and detailing of our craft she selects the bamboo that is mature enough to be durable but still holds enough moisture to be pliable.
The Foundation - She carefully creates the base and crosses the initial thick spokes of bamboo like the petals of a flower and weaves them tightly to create a foundation that will support the weight of soil and a growing plant for years to come.
The Finishing Touch - You might notice the delicate, scalloped edge at the top rim of the planter, which is the ‘lock’ — a technique where she folds the vertical spokes back down into the weave. It prevents the edges from fraying and gives the piece a clean, polished look that protects your hands when you move the planter.
The Connection to Land - Every planter she makes is a conversation with our surroundings. The light, natural color you see in our planters comes from the bamboo’s natural state, though sometimes she smokes it over a gentle fire to give it a richer, deeper hue that tells a story in itself.