Handcrafted Floral and Bird Motif Leather Sling from India, "Avian Dance"

"Madhubani art is my childhood love and I have always enjoyed drawing the fine lines myself. I love sketching and drawing continuous patterns, which give the freehand paintings a very symbolic meaning.

"When the canvas is big, the possibilities are unlimited. I love working with a variety of media like leather, fabric, wood and everything sourced from reliable, sustainable sources. I find inspiration in the most mundane things around me. For me, design is about problem-solving and identifying the need. I look for sustainable, organic solutions and designs.

"Initially, I faced a lot of challenges because fashion was considered taboo in the place I lived. Getting admitted to a design institute was difficult but, with my passion and creativity, I managed to get into one of the finest institutions in our country.

"After graduation, I did freelance projects in many craft clusters and I realized that the artisans lacked design processes. While tastes evolved over time, traditional crafts did not, and they became less popular with the contemporary shopper. Yet these artisans inspired me and, relying on their stories, I have developed my own style of expression that applies Madhubani art to modern handbags and accessories.

"The artisans who collaborate with me work from the clusters they are in, as I believe this will help sustain the craft and pass it on to the next generation. I work mostly with members of the younger generation. They are paid well and they don't need to go anywhere to find work. This discourages migration to the cities where artisans must take regular jobs as unskilled laborers. We wish to build a culture where the whole community becomes self-sustainable and would not need to go anywhere else for work.

"While it has been very exciting to see my dreams come to life, it has also been quite challenging. Working alone comes with its own responsibilities and there is no time out. However, I believe pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work."