Learning

Delve into the material culture, trade histories and contemporary debates surrounding India’s phenomenal textiles. Presented and conceptualised by independent researcher and curator Mayank Mansingh Kaul, this course traces India’s enduring relevance as a global textile hub: from rare ancient fragments and colonial-era disruptions, to craft revival efforts and international fashion runways.

What’s behind the popularity of blue jeans? Is consumerism ever sustainable? Can craftsperson–designer collaborations be equitable? Over nine lectures spanning an arc of two centuries, this series — presented by art historian and designer Dr Annapurna Garimella — examines the pivotal moments, dominant ideologies, innovators and institutions that have shaped the evolution of craft in India’s recent past.