Pattachitra panels @ Kunsquad
Pallabi Sarangi, Priyabrata Mohapatra and Abhishek Deo might need completely different backgrounds (style and enterprise respectively) however joined forces in 2021 to launch Kunsquad. “We shared this hunger to create something that felt personal, experimental, and expressive. What began as casual brainstorming slowly turned into moodboards, samples, ideas scribbled on tissue papers,” says Pallabi, 28. For these questioning what the model’s title means, ‘Kuns’ means artwork in Afrikaans, and ‘squad’ stands for the workforce behind it.
The Pattachitra assortment contains unisex T-shirts, trousers, and corset tops
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Their first assortment Wabi Sabi – A Love Letter to the Self was a restricted version assortment of T-shirts and trousers. Their most up-to-date drop, the Pattachitra assortment — comprising unisex T-shirts, trousers, and corset tops — was their manner of bringing heritage storytelling from Odisha into in the present day’s avenue tradition. “We have taken the intricate hand-painted art, usually seen on scrolls and temples, and translated it into oversized, genderless silhouettes. It’s a tribute to where we come from, but also a rebellion against how tradition is usually boxed in,” explains Pallabi. Research included a journey to Raghurajpur, a small village close to Puri, Odisha, “where pattachitra has been kept alive for generations”. “Standing there, we knew this collection had to honour the soul of the craft. We made a conscious decision not to digitise the prints. Instead, we collaborated directly with the artists to hand-paint each piece. We chose materials like denim, kala cotton, khadi cotton, and soft cotton jersey as these fabrics can hold hand-painted detailing,” she says.
Outfits from the Pattachitra assortment
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The course of, she says, was intense. “We were co-ordinating with multiple artisans, going through countless trials, experimenting with surfaces, and trying to source naturally dyed fabrics wherever possible. Some materials rejected the paint, some designs did not translate well.”
The trio is now working in the direction of creating a flagship area, and new collabs for upcoming collections.
Upwards of ₹3,500 on kunsquad.com
Zero Tolerance works with artisans throughout Uttar Pradesh who hand-spin, hand-weave materials and use algae-based pigment dyes
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Block tales @ Zero Tolerance
“I didn’t come from a fashion background,” says 27-year-old Prakhar Rao Chandel, who graduated inJournalism however later switched to style. “After I graduated, I spent a year researching cultural identity, storytelling, and fashion — which ultimately led me to start Zero Tolerance in 2020,” he says, including that Zeeshan Akhtar, his childhood good friend, joined the model as co-founder later that 12 months.
Outfits at Zero Tolerance
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The model, championing Indian crafts and their makers, began with collections resembling Proud Browns, Wild on the Streets, and a collaborative capsule with artist Sameera Sardana. “these were “more visual and graphic in nature”. “I didn’t have access to artisan clusters, so I worked with what I had: stories to tell and a passion for South Asian identity.” Later, he travelled, met NGOs, linked with textile engineers, and constructed his indigenous provide chain. “That led to collections like Homecoming, which featured handwoven fabrics, handspun yarn, and traditional embroidery, and it felt like a moment where everything clicked — where my storytelling met the soil,” says Prakhar, who now works with artisans throughout Uttar Pradesh who hand-spin, hand-weave materials and use algae-based pigment dyes.
An artisan at Zero Tolerance
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Prakhar remembers his childhood days when he tagged alongside with his mom to her boutique and was “mesmerised” by the tailoring course of. “I didn’t know it then, but that was the moment something sparked. The idea that fabric could hold meaning, story, and intention — that stayed with me,” says Prakhar, including how his faculty years and a semester overseas in London had him delve deeper into the humanities.
Karm, was crafted in Lucknow, and debuted at London Fashion Week in September 2024
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His most up-to-date line, Karm, was crafted in Lucknow and debuted at London Fashion Week in September 2024. Spotlighting strategies like hand-spun cotton, handwoven cloth, aari, and zardozi embroidery, the 11-piece assortment comprised practical fits for males, co-ord units, shirts, and jorts. Prakhar says it was “rooted in the idea of energy imprint — that every stitch carries the karma, the hard work, and the touch of the artisan”.
Karm comprised practical fits for males, co-ord units, shirts, and jorts
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Currently engaged on the model’s SS’25 assortment Virasat, Prakhar says it’s a homage and reimagination of royal block printing from Uttar Pradesh. For this, he has collaborated with Hari Shankar Pandey, a block printer who has been practising because the Nineteen Fifties. “He uses 100+ year-old blocks sourced from a royal archive in Pratapgarh, and we’re honored to help bring his work into contemporary design,” he says, of the gathering of skirts, clothes, shackets, and extra.
Upwards of ₹5,500 on ztinternational.co/
For Like Water, the workforce labored with 36 artisans throughout 18 areas utilizing 32 completely different crafts
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Shibori meerts Rabari @ Kardo
For founder Rikki Kher, the model’s journey began from a private place. “I was making clothes for myself and was encouraged to turn that into a business. While I initially explored an online model, I quickly shifted to a more traditional path, focussing on international wholesale,” says the 54-year-old. With a background in style, Rikki “wanted to push back against fast fashion” and launched Kardo in 2013.
Like Water contains shirts, co-ord units, clothes, and skirts
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Kardo, he says, was constructed as a “slower” platform to spotlight conventional strategies. “Our early collections were simple, well-tailored, and made with handwoven fabrics and craft processes,” he says. The first assortment, he explains, included Jodhpuri fits made in cotton French Terry jersey (that sweatshirts are made with), handloom denim fits, khadi shirts, ikat weaves, and deadstock camouflage.
Artisans at Kardo
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Rikki’s most up-to-date drops — Like Water and Sadda Vedha — proceed to spotlight craft strategies. “For Like Water, we worked with 36 artisans across 18 locations using 32 different crafts and making 62 fabrics,” says Rikki, who works with artisan clusters throughout the nation. The assortment comprising shirts, co-ord units, clothes, and skirts contains block printing, hand-embroidery, pure dyeing, Gond portray, shibori dyeing, Rabari appliqué work, to call a few.
Outfits from Like Water
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As for Sadda Vedha, the SS26 assortment drop, Rikki says he returned to the thought of the courtyard, additionally referred to as aangan. “It’s a space that’s been central to homes across India. It’s where families gather, stories are shared, and memories are quietly made in the rhythm of everyday life. This collection is rooted in that feeling of stillness, warmth, and togetherness.” With khadi and embroidery as distinguished sides of the vary comprising shirts, shorts, trousers and jackets., Rikki says crafts resembling ari, ikkat, and phulkari, have been used alongside handloom weaving strategies.
Upwards of ₹3,250 on kardo.co
