Handicrafts of India

अभिनन्दन from Gaatha

Gaatha project was originally conjured only for researching and documenting the rapid erosion of Indian craft clusters and heritage. However, we soon learnt from the artisans themselves that need was not to do research alone, but to restore ‘pride and serious commercial opportunity’ in their ecosystem. Today Gaatha thus aims to bring the lost respect and wealth back to these beautiful and aesthetically rich Indian handicraft clusters. These researches are important because just like Industrial goods sell on ‘features’, crafts sell on the processes / stories / heritage that go into making them.

We should give crafts a fair chance, someone is right now merrily making something for us, singing a folk song, in a humble house, deep inside India.

Buy: Indian Handicrafts Online
Research & Archive: Indian Crafts

 Craft Consultancy & Design

The First Step: Listen & Learn

For the past 14 years, Gaatha has been working with government bodies, institutions, brands, and individuals to design meaningful, culture-rooted experiences and products. Combining deep technical knowledge of Indian crafts with a strong foundation in design, we bring handmade traditions into contemporary contexts.

Our Design Service Verticals
1. Publication Design

From research-led publications to promotional and educational material, we transform craft narratives into visually rich and reader-friendly formats.

2. Product Design & Development

Co-create handcrafted products rooted in tradition and designed for today; from market research, design to prototypes, with artisans at the heart of it.

3. Space Design

Reimagine spaces through the lens of handicrafts; installations, retail experiences, exhibits, and storytelling environments crafted by skilled hands.

Our Collaborative Process
Understanding the Need

We begin by listening to and understanding your goals, audience, and context.

Research & Conceptualisation

Mapping relevant crafts, materials, and techniques through research and field inputs.

Design & Prototyping

Collaborative design iterations with artisan involvement.

Execution & Delivery

Bringing concepts to life with transparency, care, and contextual relevance.

Featured Projects
A double-sided Bidri artwork at Bangalore Airport terminal-2— the intricate silver inlay on deep black forms a striking visual, reimagined as a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). It captures the spirit of India’s Silicon Valley, beautifully illustrated with Bidri’s native flora and fauna from the Karnataka delta of the Western Ghats — a perfect tribute to the vibrant, ever-evolving culture of Bangalore.
Project “Handloom to Fashion” with Co-optex, Government of Tamil Nadu, aimed to design new sarees and home furnishing products across seven different handloom clusters. The project involved initial research, concept development, and prototyping in close collaboration with local societies and artisan groups.
A coffee table book for the Madhya Pradesh government, created to celebrate the artisans behind the craft. The project included initial research, photography, graphic design, and printing.
Let’s Work Together

Whether you’re a designer, curator, institution or brand,  we’d love to explore what we can create together. Pitch Your Project →Write to us at [email protected]

Great things happen when hands and hearts work as one.