Savoir-faire

Chanakya, Preserving the Excellence of Savoir-Faire

Through the founding of their very own Chanakya School of Craft in 2017, Mumbai, India’s Chanakya ateliers have made it possible to offer women in local communities a new autonomy while preserving precious, exceptional techniques.

Photo credits Prarthna Singh / Chanakya / Chanakya School of Craft

The students of this unique school learn the 700 gestures required to become a master craftsperson, a role that in India is traditionally reserved for men. Continuing her committed dialogues with world cultures, in this Dior haute couture show Maria Grazia Chiuri celebrates more than ever the transmission and pluralistic beauty of savoir-faire, at the intersection of art, craft making, and haute couture.

Photo credits Prarthna Singh / Chanakya / Chanakya School of Craft

A virtuoso collective work, a poetry of the hand that transcends borders and eras by glorifying the priceless richness of cultures: from India to France, from Mumbai to Paris.

Photo credits

Karishma Swali Creative Director, Chanakya International & Chanakya School of Craft

Since 1998, Karishma Swali has led Chanakya International, a global textile house committed to the conservation, revival and innovation of Indian craft. Throughout her 25-year career, which has included stints at international luxury houses, Karishma has worked closely with artists, conservationists, and advocates to highlight India’s diverse craft traditions. In 2016, Karishma co-founded the Chanakya School of Craft. A first of its kind, this non-profit school is dedicated to craft, culture and creating new autonomy for women. The school has educated over 1,000 women to date, teaching over 150 hand embroidery, hand weaving and macramé techniques through a holistic curriculum anchored in the voices and lives of historical female figures.

With the support of Dior and Creative Director of Dior women’s lines, Maria Grazia Chiuri, the Chanakya School of Craft has collaborated with notable contemporary artists since 2020, including Judy Chicago, Eva Jospin, Manu Parekh, Madhvi Parekh and Mickalene Thomas. The immersive art installations that serve as the scenography for Dior’s couture shows blend the boundaries between fine art and craft; the works have since been featured at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco and the Museum of Impressionism in Giverny (France).

In addition to her role at Chanakya, Karishma co-founded the luxury Indian bridal brand Jade with Monica Shah, as well as the contemporary line Moonray, with her daughter Avantika Swali. Karishma was the recipient of the 2022 Grazia Millennial Award for Contemporary Craftsmanship, named one of the top 10 leaders in the fashion industry by CEO Insights (2021), recognized as a Cultural Ambassador by Asia Society India Centre and has been a member of the BoF500 since 2022.