Homegrown Labels Revitalising Traditional Handloom Crafts Across The Country

In India, we tend to look back at the sartorial choices of royal families to find inspiration for our contemporary wardrobes. Made using fine silks and rare materials, their garments reflected the highly intricate artisanal practices of the country. These pieces often incorporated a variety of indigenous handlooms from various craft clusters and remained conscious of their environmental impact.

At present, many indie labels are seeking to revitalise the magic of true luxury by producing collections with lesser-known handlooms crafts across India. These elevated staples take an unbridled approach to everyday dressing and are also highlighting the hidden artistry of traditional handloom crafts. Here are three homegrown labels on our radar that are transforming the face of modern dressing in India. 

Wunderhaus

A label that unearths and utilises handlooms from different parts of the country, Wunderhaus is truly an exploration of indigenous cultures. An ode to all things organic, the brand incorporates homegrown and ethically produced cotton in their collections. Rooted in Indian heritage, they regularly experiment with rare Orissa Ikat, Jamdani cotton and Kurinjipadi handlooms. Their design philosophy focuses on creating gender-fluid and relaxed silhouettes that hold on to traditional prints and patterns while crafting conscious collections. 

Find them here.

Naushad Ali

Minimal and modern in its approach, Naushad Ali is a sustainable label that utilises the city of Pondicherry as their muse. One can see the confluence of unique cultures within the design, similar to the city where people from different backgrounds come together for community living. It can be interesting to decode the influences, from the smallest details of the handwoven vintage stripes to the vibrant checks in silk cotton and the intricate hand embroidered details. All of which pay homage to the rich heritage of the coastal town and reveal influences only known to its inhabitants. 

Find them here.

Karu Research

Geared towards the preservation of Indian handicrafts, Karu fosters an intimate collaboration with master craftspeople all around the country to create modern menswear. A label that seeks to conserve lineage of rare handlooms of India work with weavers from Andhra Pradesh and Bengal, hand embroiderers from Delhi and Bengal and utilise the hard work of natural dyers from Odisha. Ensuring a high quality for each piece they incorporate soft handloom silk from Gujarat and banana fibre crochet from Karnataka. The hand-knit collections stand apart in the market as the expertise is reflected well in each strand of woven thread that further redefines Indian luxury. 

Find them here.

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