CONSCIOUS COUTURIER

In Crafts of India, Anita Dongre revisits the country's rich textile heritage through a contemporary lens, spotlighting crafts like ajrakh, bandhani, Benarasi silk, and pichhwai. Each piece is a testament to India's living legacies and the artisans who keep them alive

- Manu Vipin

ANITA DONGRE HAS long been a force of quiet revolution in Indian fashion—a designer who balances beauty with purpose, tradition with modernity. With her new Autumn/Winter 2025 collection, Crafts of India, she revisits the country’s rich textile heritage through a contemporary lens, spotlighting crafts like ajrakh, bandhani, Benarasi silk, and pichhwai. Each piece is a testament to India’s living legacies and the artisans who keep them alive.

From her eco-conscious home overlooking a forest, the designer leads a life as intentional as her design philosophy—growing her own food, driving electric, and practicing mindful consumption. The founder of the ₹1,000-crore House of Anita Dongre, with brands like AND, Global Desi, Pinkcity, and Grassroot, she has built an empire on ethics as much as aesthetics. Her collaboration with SEWA continues to empower women artisans across rural India, proving that fashion can uplift as much as it adorns.

She opens up about the inspiration behind Crafts of India, her deep bond with artisans, the personal memories that shape her work, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

Your Autumn/Winter 2025 collection is rooted in crafts that have existed for centuries. What was the inspiration?

The inspiration, as always, is empowering the artisan.