Artisans by Design: An Odyssey of Education for Textile Artisans in India

Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya was conceived as a place where needlework and textile artisans in the Kutch District of India--a rugged arid region of western Indian known for its rich craft traditions--could learn specialized design techniques and color theory, improve their business skills, explore ecological and sustainable methods of fabric arts and crafts, and discover how to successfully market their work while remaining true to their cultural heritage. Artisans by Design presents personal stories of more than 20 of these artisans in intimate vignettes, detailing how their experiences at the school brought them personal fulfillment, improved skills, financial stability, and an understanding of eco-commerce and sustainability.

Readers will learn

- how Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya affected the lives and craft of its students, both individually and as part of the larger community of the Kutch District;
- the challenges and triumphs of founding, running, and maintaining the school; and
- how outside forces--societal, political, environmental, and cultural--had a profound impact on the school and each student.

More than 200 color photographs of the artisans and their work bring you an intimate look at this unique institution and the lives and works of its students.