Darshan Mekani Shah has always been drawn to challenges — a trait nurtured early on by parents who encouraged what she describes as a constant “fire in the belly.” Her brainchild, Weavers Studio (est. 1993), is more than an institution for her — it is life; a form of daily discipline and an enduring celebration. Distinguished for its use, promotion, and revival of techniques like kantha work, hand-block prints, natural dyes, and textural innovation, the brand has emerged as an exemplary cultural initiative that balances heritage craft, sustainable processes, and modern luxury aesthetics.
In Weavers Studio, Shah has found the perfect alignment of passion and purpose. In the last three decades, she has also built a proud legacy of Weavers Studio Resource Centre, an archive comprising 1,600 textiles, 50,000 blocks, 3,500 books, 1,00,000+ swatches, and extensive research, publications, and programmes. Robb Report India had an opportunity to know more about her and the brand.
Darshan Mekani Shah (DMS) : In 2015, Weavers Studio changed direction. Along with its not-for-profit arm, Weavers Studio Resource Centre, it began to research, document, publish, and showcase Bengal textiles that needed to be brought back to the attention of the world: Be it the baluchar, muslin, jamdani, tangail, kantha, shantipuri, begum bahar, the basic gamcha, or the lost colchas, through exhibitions, visitor engagement programmes, workshops, skill development programmes, and visits to the clusters working with these textiles, and beyond.
Since then, the community has grown slowly yet surely, from being careless to careful, recycling, upcycling, water treatment, sustainable, environment-friendly, using azo-free and natural dyes, and moving towards more conscious production methods. Social media has helped share inspiring stories and backstories, bringing the community closer together.
DMS: Not one that I can point to. Just daily experiential moments, or the unfolding of a folded textile that has arrived after months of nimble hands working on it. Or a paan-stained smile from my extended family of hugely talented, under-recognised, creative, and committed craftspersons who continue tirelessly to work on their skill, as they know nothing else but their work that keeps the fires lit at their respective homes. I feel energised, inspired, and blessed.
DMS: Luxury is handcrafted textiles from A to Z. From the seed to the final textile, if it is all by hand, then it is luxury. Weavers Studio, as a brand, has evolved over the last few years, with a younger team that understands social media, brand building, consistency, and restraint. We understand that content is king, and know how to tell engaging stories without the “overkill" in an already cluttered space.
Global relevance is sustained through exports, travel, collaborations, and international exhibitions, alongside a growing open-access archive. By engaging across design, film, and interiors, we continue to be in search of excellence, engaging internationally with film costumes and interior design projects, participating in international exhibitions, and remaining open to dialogue and opportunity, staying relevant.
DMS: Indian handcrafted textiles will continue to hold their place in the international market, with all top brands already having a base in India through collaborators, partnerships, and workshops engaged in high-quality, high-end, unique designs being exclusively handcrafted for their labels. The increasing interest in India's highly skilled workers, their ability to deliver what the international buyer requires, and workshops being run at a professional scale, like Chanakya, Lesage, and many others, are making their mark, with more and more brands wanting to bring their production to India.
My favourite Indian textiles are the simple weaves woven with textured natural yarns and inlaid with jamdani motifs, along with understated, value-added kantha and sujni work.
DMS: A connoisseur today is not just someone with taste. They are aware, knowledgeable, and experienced. They ask questions. They want to know where something comes from, who made it, and why it matters.
That is where storytelling becomes essential. It is not enough to present a beautiful textile. You have to do the research, unearth the historical narrative, find the reference that makes someone stop and look again. Sometimes it is not even a new story. It is a familiar one told from a fresh angle, and that shift in perspective is what catches attention.
Through films, oral histories, and process-led storytelling, the craft behind each textile is revealed. Once buyers understand the time and effort involved, it transcends product — becoming something to cherish and pass on. True luxury lies not in price, but in the meaning shaped by its story.
DMS: Yes, the awareness is building up for a strong case for handmade textiles. Slow fashion, natural fibres, the story, the face, the nimble hands behind the textile are all being recognised and appreciated, and people are willing to pay more for assured quality and design exclusivity where the maker has been recognised for his or her true value.
Daily challenges, struggles, changing mindsets, environmental and economic factors, generational gaps, differences in outlook, different needs and wants — all of these need a delicate balance. A continued conversation is important. Across roles, balance comes from strong values, uncompromised principles, and a commitment to excellence — creating sustainable, win-win collaborations despite diverse skills and mindsets.