Design Craft at Lakmé Fashion Week 2025

Design Craft, a platform dedicated to showcasing artisan designer graduates from Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV), collaborated with Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI to present the work of five talented artisan designers from Kutch.

The showcase highlighted how these artisans have seamlessly blended their rich craft traditions—Batik, Ajrakh, Mashru, and Bandhani—with contemporary design sensibilities, bringing their work to a global audience.

This collaboration marked a milestone for Design Craft, reinforcing its mission to promote and preserve traditional crafts while connecting artisan designers to new markets. By bridging heritage with modern fashion, the showcase celebrated the evolving story of Kutch’s craftsmanship.

I led this project, managing the process from selection and design development to production, coordination, and on-ground execution.

Key Roles:

1.Selection & Curation:

• Carefully selected artisan designers to represent Design Craft at Lakmé Fashion Week, ensuring a diverse yet cohesive representation of craft traditions.

• Facilitated introductions and detailed meetings between the artisan designers and the official Lakmé Fashion Week stylist to align creative visions and highlight the unique language of each designer’s craft.

2.Design Development & Execution:

• Coordinated with artisan designers to translate stylist recommendations into feasible, craft-led silhouettes.

• Supported the artisans through the design development process — from selecting appropriate materials and motifs to guiding garment construction — ensuring the designs stayed true to their traditions while fitting the contemporary runway.

3.Production Management:

• Strategically managed production timelines, tracking each designer’s progress and intervening when challenges arose to ensure deadlines were met without compromising quality.

• Served as a bridge between the artisan designers and the Lakmé team, handling all logistical and creative communication, and maintaining a smooth, respectful workflow across teams.

4.Documentary Conceptualization & Production:

• Conceptualized and developed the narrative arc for a documentary presented alongside the runway collection, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look into the artisan-designer journey.

• Acted as the key point of coordination with the production house: managing schedules, providing creative direction, and facilitating access to artisans’ studios for authentic storytelling.

• Managed the behind-the-scenes shoot, documenting the creative process, challenges, and emotional journey of each artisan involved.

  5.Human-Centric Leadership:

• One of my most meaningful responsibilities was to create a safe, respectful, and inspiring environment for the artisan designers throughout the journey.

• I worked closely with each artisan, building trust, ensuring they felt comfortable with the high-pressure environment of a national fashion platform, and advocating for their creative agency at every step — from initial meetings to their moment on the runway.