Craftpreneur returns to Chennai with 20 brands championing Indian crafts

The festive season will soon be upon us, bringing days of merriment with a side of to-do lists: gifts to purchase, new clothes to buy for the family… the tasks are endless. We suggest getting a head start at Craftpreneur 2026, the exhibition by The Crafts Council of India (CCI), which is back after a six-year hiatus. 

The upcoming edition will feature 20 brands from across the country working with diverse crafts and artisan groups, crafting everything from kidswear and decor to textiles and pottery. Lakshmi Vijayaraghavan, member, Craft Council of India, says Craftpreneur had to pause due to the pandemic, and post-COVID, the focus shifted to other textile shows by CCI.

“We always wanted to bring back Craftpreneur, but finding a suitable venue was a challenge. We always wanted the focus on smaller numbers to ensure the essence of the brands remains. Barring Minimal Indian and Boriya Basta, all the brands are first-timers with CCI,” she says. Other participating brands include Malaiyyo (jewellery), Mudpie Pottery, Vama (saris), Earthsongs (apparel), among others. 

Lakshmi adds, “We always curate a mix of established brands and those that are just starting in the industry. We are now seeing more conscious buyers wanting to go back to their roots and explore Indian craft.” 

Take, for instance, Kolkata-based Whitewater Kids, the brainchild of sisters Shweta and Ankita Dhariwal. Offering unisex apparel for children and women, each collection is inspired by a poem. “Our silhouettes for children comprise angrakhas, kurtas, pyjamas, jhablas, a range of shirts and shorts. For women, we offer free-size kaftans and shirts,” says Shweta, whose latest collection, Dhruvtara, is inspired by the poem The Story of Dhruvtara.

The duo works with artisan clusters in Gujarat, West Bengal, and a handloom artisan in Tamil Nadu. “We champion ajrakh and hand-embroidery, and our colours range from indigo to yellow . Alongside apparel, we also craft mustard seed pillows, quilts, dohars, and blankets which we will be bringing for the event,” says Shweta.

At Boriya Basta in Uttar Pradesh, founder Deepika Nigam champions kilim, an ancient weaving technique practiced in a small artisan cluster at Khairabad in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. “I will bring semi-circle bags, different variations of sling bags, and tote/laptop bags, along with home decor pieces like floor rugs, tissue boxes, wall hangings, table runners, coasters, and more. “I also plan to bring our signature magazine baskets and other storage baskets in different sizes,” says Deepika, adding that all the products are made with 100% cotton yarn “which is first tie-dyed in different shades of the same colour to give the fabric a richer and vibrant look”. 

From Tirupati, artist Thilak Reddy will showcase kalamkari apparel and textile art from his second-generation artisan workshop, Kalam Shastra. “We fuse traditional motifs with contemporary patterns, and have a permanent collection of artwork panels, shawls, stoles, garments, kaftans, jackets, shackets, cushion covers, table runners, and other products. We have also recreated the 19th Century chintz textile with an Indian colour palette,” he says, adding that he will be bringing apparel, shawls, art panels, and potlis for the event. 

While accessories and jewellery have long been seen as the finishing touches to any look, Meghna Khanna is putting the focus back on the bindi. At The Bindi Project, she focuses on the bindi, which was once a generational heirloom. “I will be bringing our statement bindis, the Tara collection, which comprises 4 mm bindis, and the Kamakhya range with bindis in the 18-20 mm range. We also craft bindis with upcycled handloom textiles and leather scrap that are a part of the Poulomi range.”

Highlighting South Indian textiles at the event, Rama Srinivasan, founder of Bengaluru-based The Dakshin Studio, is looking forward to bringing her Jamakkalam edit to the city. “This year also marks the fifth year of the brand’s jamakkalam journey. The iconic Bhavani jamakkalam, known for its bold stripes, vibrant colours, and strong association with the visual culture of South India, has been transformed into contemporary bags and lifestyle products,” says Rama. 

The collection, she says, also includes double ikat bags inspired by the Telia Rumal tradition, using handwoven textiles made by weavers from Telangana, and hand-painted Kalamkari silk bags in Kanjeevaram silk. “This collection is really a celebration of South India through its textiles; each has its own history and identity, but together they tell a larger story of the incredible textile traditions of the South,” concludes Rama.

From September 10 to 12, at The Folly, Amethyst

Published – September 05, 2026 08:06 am IST