CRAFT

For the first collection, Kitsch Culture India explores some prominent Indian crafts – Mukaish, Cutdana,  Gara and Crochet. Although of mixed lineages, some indigenous, some colonial, these crafts have sustained the test of time and become synonymous with India’s rich cultural heritage. Kitsch Culture India reimagines these crafts through a contemporary lens, bringing them into the wardrobe of today without stripping them of their history, character or craft.

The collection is an exploration of what it means to inherit tradition, and then make it your own,  where age-old techniques meet irreverent silhouettes, unexpected textures and a distinctly modern sensibility. It is India, as we know it, and India as we want to wear it now.

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Beyond the Garment

Go deeper into the stories, histories and techniques behind the crafts that shape our first collection. Explore our research, references and conversations around craft. 

 

  • MUKAISH

    Born in the gullies of Lucknow, Mukaish is a delicate metalwork tradition of adding tiny pieces of metallic foil onto fabric. Traditionally worked by hand, the craft catches light with every movement,  subtle, luminous and unmistakably Indian. Also called Kamdani, or Badla, the craft is most commonly used as ornamentation to chikankari motifs. Kitsch Culture reimagines Mukaish beyond its traditional vocabulary, placing this centuries-old technique against contemporary silhouettes and unexpected forms.

  • PARSI GARA

    A story of migration, exchange and craftsmanship, Parsi Gara embroidery found its way to India with the Parsi community, evolving over generations into a distinctive Indian textile tradition. Known for its intricate silk embroidery and motifs drawn from flora, fauna and the natural world, each Gara is a study in patience, detail and storytelling.

    Kitsch Culture reimagines Parsi Gara through a contemporary lens, preserving its intricate language while giving it new forms, silhouettes and a place in the modern wardrobe.

  • CUTDANA

    Cutdana is a traditional form of Indian hand embroidery using finely cut, faceted beads that catch and reflect light. Each bead is individually placed and stitched by hand, creating a surface that feels almost jewel-like. Once associated with elaborate occasion wear, at Kitsch Culture India, Cutdana is reimagined with restraint—using light, texture and meticulous handwork to turn embellishment into something distinctly modern.

  • CROCHET

    A craft built one loop at a time, crochet has travelled across cultures and generations, moving between domestic handiwork, traditional dress and contemporary fashion. Its open, tactile construction gives it a sense of ease, delicate yet expressive, familiar yet endlessly adaptable.

    Kitsch Culture reimagines crochet through an Indian lens, using atypical materials like zari , bringing the intimacy of handwork into modern silhouettes while celebrating the beauty of imperfection, texture and time.

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