JADE by Monica & Karishma is redefining the codes of Indian craft heritage by nurturing hand-craftsmanship traditions of India and empowering women artisans.

As Monica & Karishma grew the retail footprint of JADE with a large new flagship store in Mumbai and a store in Hyderabad, they also decided to go back to the roots of where JADE came from and set up The Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai to help sustain Indian arts and crafts, as well as to empower the community of women artisans.

Monica Shah of JADE by Monica & Karishma

JADE has painstakingly brought to life craft forms such as Ek Taar (where pieces are intricately crafted with just one thread) embroideries and silhouettes from the Victorian and Mughal eras, old techniques such as Macrame, using Silver yarn and many more techniques.

“Hand craftsmanship is an integral part of our legacy and our global comparative advantage. The Indian crafts sector is the second largest employer after agriculture. In India craft can be described as not merely an industry, but a legacy that symbolizes sustainability, inclusivity and entrepreneurship. This legacy needs to be kept alive and that can only happen with  support. As we gradually come out of lock-down, its time to be proud of our craft heritage and play a role in its ensuring its survival. At JADE, we are proud of the work in sustainable craft and employment at The Chanakya School as well as with the artisans we work with across various craft clusters”, says Monica Shah of JADE.

Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of Dior Women’s Collection

In addition, The Chanakya school of Art & Embroidery by JADE collaborated with Luxury Fashion House Dior for the spring-summer 2020 Haute Couture fashion show held at the Musée Rodin in January 2020. Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of Dior women’s collections unveiled a set, designed in collaboration with the renowned American artist Judy Chicago in partnership with the Chanakya School of Craft.

The collaboration, inspired by Chicago’s iconic feminist work, included a series of 21 embroidered panels commissioned by Chiuri, which were created with the help of 150 female students from the Chanakya School. Each panel took anywhere between 500 to 2,800 hours to create, involving 11 individual processes.

About Chanakya School of Art & Embroidery by JADE

JADE by Monica & Karishma announced the launch of Chanakya School of Embroidery & Fine Crafts in Mumbai – Byculla two years ago. Chanakya – is a Flagship export embroidery house (and the parent company of JADE) which works with International brands like Dior, Gucci, Alberta Ferretti since 1986.

Student from the Chanakya School of Art

Chanakya firmly believes in the harmonious blend of heritage and modernity. Collaborating with global fashion houses to extensively research, design and produce bespoke luxury embroideries, garments and accessories, Chanakya seamlessly combines the signature style of fashion houses with their artisan’s core, inherent and inborn talent.

Wanting to change the stronghold of male embroiderers and simultaneously empower women, led to the opening of The Chanakya School of Embroidery and Fine Crafts. The initiative focuses on providing women from low-income groups with the skills and education they need to either look for employment or be entrepreneurs. All the programmes are certified by National Institute of Fashion Technology and Export Promotion Council of Handicrafts.

Dior X Chanakya School of Craft

Currently, an ever-growing group of hundred women, receive in-depth instruction from expert artisans in the field. They also study modules dealing with the use of technology, business acumen, and starting new ventures. The benefit is twofold: ancient techniques and skills are now revived, rejuvenated by the joy and ambition of those who have finally been empowered. Women of all communities can now create their art safely, transforming not just their own lives but the lives of those around them.

Chanakya’s women-only facility, with flexible timings, again the first of its kind in India, gives these women autonomy over their craft and their lives. After the curriculum is complete, the students are also offered a choice between entrepreneurship and employment. This beautiful alliance has enabled women’s creativity, energy, enthusiasm and confidence to blossom. They can create their own change both at work and at home, transforming this opportunity into true progress and freedom.