At JADE by MK and the Grassroot Artisans Project, Indian craft lies at the heart of every story being told. Each textile, weave and embroidery carries with it generations of knowledge, culture and human touch from different corners of the country. From the detailed embroideries of Kutch and the weaving traditions of the South to the age-old block printing clusters of Rajasthan, the journey has always been about celebrating the incredible diversity of Indian craftsmanship and the people behind it. Every collaboration with artisans is built on respect, continuity and a shared love for preserving these traditions through contemporary design.
To preserve and celebrate India s artisanal heritage bytransforming ancient crafts into modern couture. Everygarment is thoughtfully handcrafted to tell stories oftradition, emotion, and innovation; fostering a powerfulconnection between the wearer and the maker.
CRAFT IS OUR LANGUAGE
It’s truly inspiring to witness what honest intention, when sustained over time, can build .
Key embroideries that have grown into a cultural code at JADE include Kasab, Ek Taar and Motibharat. Kasab embroidery carries the legacy of Mughal courts, where metallic threadwork adorned the garments of royalty. Artisans hand-stitch fine gold and silver threads into floral motifs and intricate jaals that catch light beautifully.
Ektaar is embroidery in its most thoughtful form, built from a single, continuous thread that moves rhythmically across the fabric. Artisans work slowly and with great precision, there is something almost meditative about Ektaar; every stitch feels intentional, giving the textile a refined, deeply handcrafted character.
Moti Bharat is a traditional bead embroidery historically used to decorate ceremonial garments and wedding textiles. Tiny glass beads are hand-stitched one by one onto fabric, forming intricate geometric and floral patterns with remarkable precision. The result is a surface that catches light and movement in the most beautiful way - tactile, vibrant and unmistakably handmade.
But true craft goes beyond embroidery technique, it is the innovaton of textiles and the art of layering them.
Ajrakh, an ancient block printing tradition with roots thousands of years deep, built through multiple rounds of hand printing, resist dyeing and washing. Every layer of colour and pattern speaks to the patience and skill of the artisan behind it. Bandhni involves thousands of tiny knots tied by hand, dyed, and opened to reveal dotted patterns full of movement and life. In Leheriya fabric is rolled, tied and dyed to reveal wave-like stripes that seem to move like water. Skilled artisans often repeat the tying and dyeing process multiple times to create layered colour effects. Block Print includes motif hand-stamped using intricately carved wooden blocks, the slight irregularities of the human hand that make every printed fabric feel entirely its own.
The truest form of craft intelligence comes through Indian weaves, at JADE we innovate designs that find their way intro traditional weaves. - comissioning textiles that grow to become one of a kind. For both the consumer and JADE.
Denim jacquard weaves pattern directly into the fabric itself rather than onto its surface, bringing together the rugged familiarity of denim with the intricacy of jacquard weaving. Our Jamewar takes intricate paisleys and florals woven directly into fine wool or silk - Jamewar is Kashmir's most celebrated weaving tradition, carrying the depth of Mughal-era craftsmanship in every textile. Khimkhab weaves silk densely with gold and silver zari threads to create a fabric so richly detailed and sculptural it feels less like textile-making and more like architecture in thread. In Ikkat, the craft begins before the weaving does - yarn is tied and dyed with precision so that patterns emerge gradually on the loom, their slightly feathered edges a signature of the beautiful tension between mathematical planning and the handmade.
None of this is possible without our 'Apsaras', the JADE House Motif she is draped in a sari and holding a garland mid-flight, she symbolizes grace, grit, and the power of creation. She represents the artisans we work with - quiet, dedicated, and powerful in their grace. Guardians of the handmade in a digital age, the backbone of all the work we create.
At JADE, the artisan has always been central we actually refer to them as our angels. For us, the idea has always been that heaven is handmade. When craftsmanship becomes the starting point, the garment carries a certain soul. It’s truly at the heart of our work.
- MONICA SHAH, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
