Nov. 10-25
At the end of the day, we are all chasing connections, and reconnecting with craft is a means to make us feel, write Archana Prabhu and Chyra Luiz.
We live in a time obsessed with imprint and impact, but when we look around, how much of what we surround ourselves with truly carries one? Can we recall where we sourced something from, who made it, or if it has a story around it? Or is it just an ‘aesthetic’ that the algorithm approved of? Is it unique or mirrored across all the other minds?
Somehow, our choices stopped telling our own stories, and they began to echo as trends. It’s craftsmanship that fills this void of a personal narrative. It is the connection that we crave from inanimate/lifeless objects. It’s a connection that was once strongly felt, lived on, and took pride in. Recently overlooked but has never been lost.
The idea of a craft or an object being crafted is not in the mimicry of historical aesthetic or small batch production; it is the thought and the process behind the outcome. It shapes the relationship between the material, maker, and consumer. Often mistaken for cultural symbols or nostalgia, it’s about why and how it came to be. Artist Ivan Barnett describes craft as “the universal language of the hand, a language that needs no words. It is a language steeped in the power of personal creativity and expression.”, a tangible manifestation of human emotions.
The idea of a craft or an object being crafted is not in the mimicry of historical aesthetic or small batch production; it is the thought and the process behind the outcome.
Indian craftsmanship today runs beyond exhibitions and museums; it is integrated into our way of living. From the rattan chairs that one sits on, sipping tea from a kullhad (clay pot) to the block-print saris that once filled your grandmother’s trunk, now finding their place in art galleries and runways; every entity is rooted in tradition through material, memory, habits and values.
This keeps craft alive and gives meaning to everyday. Indian diversity is a reflection of co-existence of multiple communities. Across regions, communities created what they needed from what was around them, including tools, textiles, and patterns that were functional and sustainable with beauty. India has been shaping global design for centuries through the trade of products and ideas.
We are currently witnessing the resurgence of crafts and craftsmanship. It is being revalued for its tactility, effort, and soul amidst the polish and perfection of mass production. But it’s reimagined to fit the modern era. Hence, creating space for the deep Indian heritage of design and existence to become the foundation of a new wave/narrative.
The first step to reconnection through craft is sight- to make meaning out of visuals, patterns, and forms. Craft is about creating objects with skill, often by hand. It is the presentation and perception of imperfections. Tiipoi innovates homeware products with the provenance of material and historical use, blending them with contemporary design.
Each product carries slight variations in texture or an irregular curve of a mould, celebrating these imperfections as traces of human touch and responsible manufacture. Their product lines reflect the diverse crafts they work with. From Longpi, Manipur’s black metal pottery to traditional Channapatna lacquerware and metal spinning techniques.
This extends to experiences as well. The Postcard Hotel prides itself on authenticity, curating locally made furniture, textiles, art pieces and architectural details. Neighborhoods and local communities are considered the souls of each hotel, making every property experience distinct, both visually and experientially.
Craft then invites tactility: an object traced, made, held and connected with. It holds continuity from creator to consumer and so on. This is felt through surface and texture. It extends into the showcase and adoption of traditional processes and material intelligence. Tactility speaks through effort (brought out by quality and precision) and care (aligning with sustainability and longevity of the product).
Iro Iro, is a fitting example, a circular studio that upcycles textile waste and collaborates with local artisans to make deconstructed clothing patterns. Iro Iro works with hand-weaving techniques from the village of Govindgarh, Rajasthan. Each piece carries a story of resourcefulness and reshapes the narrative of modern crafting that usually steers towards direct imitation.
Craft is heard through the stories that travel with it. It could be the sound of the weavers’ loom, or the artist’s chisel paired with its purpose of creation. Craft is how creators, brands and consumers keep their voices alive. Kokaachi studio collaborates with storytellers to create graphic narratives on comic books, matchbox stories, picture books, etc., in an effort to preserve the craft of storytelling through the medium of print.
Craft is heard through the stories that travel with it. It could be the sound of the weavers’ loom, or the artist’s chisel paired with its purpose of creation.
Beauty brands like Inde Wild have based their hair oil formulations on family recipes for the perfect “Champi”, the layman’s head massage and a ritual of care. The voice of the brand comes from a mother–daughter duo, with the mother, a doctor and creator of the original recipe, forming both the foundation of the brand and its emotional core. They have coined the term – Ayurvedistry (Ayurveda+chemistry), a modern blend of the two.
Craft lingers around consumption. Traditional consumption begins with purpose: an object or service crafted to fulfill a need, justify a want or keep a culture alive. For the consumer, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience and for the brand, it means retention in the consumer’s mind as well as impact beyond their ecosystem. Araku Coffee captures this well, highlighting tribal farmers’ soil practices, fermentation and roasting as the ‘recipe’ passed through generations. A cup of their craft. It involves consuming knowledge, tradition and cultural memory embedded in every bean.
Modern consumption stands apart, it creates a crafting loop. One is actively involved in the craft through experiences and collaborations that blend into lifestyles.
One is literally ‘tasting’ the skilled fermentation and roasting processes that are all part of the final flavor profile. It’s the consumption of the story from soil to cup and of the values that connect you to the land, sustainable methods, and the community behind the product.
Modern consumption stands apart, it creates a crafting loop. One is actively involved in the craft through experiences and collaborations that blend into lifestyles. The consumer could become the ‘maker’ and make a more nuanced form of the craft. For instance, workshops by Araku coffee like ‘Brew your own cup’ or collaborations with artists: MISHO x Araku Coffee, inspired by the women of Araku, merge jewelry design with cultural storytelling, fostering a shared social narrative around craft.
At the end of the day, we are all chasing connections, and reconnecting with craft is a means to make us feel. It lies in the observation of a wonky stitch, a symbol of uniqueness; a crochet thread that comes undone, a mark of time or perhaps rugged hands; a sign of care and effort. In these imperfectly perfect details, we rediscover connection. In these imperfectly perfect details, we rediscover craft.
