Frozen Music
In 1987, in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Varun Seth founded Frozen Music, the lapidary and decorative arts studio, whose intricate designs have made their way to places as far off as Italy and Mexico. While Frozen Music's workshop today uses state-of-the-art machines, the 32-year-old brand's main focus is still very much on handcrafting. “The machines in my workshop are used only to give my craftspeople pre-cut material—this gives them the opportunity to bypass the long and tedious process of preparing materials,” says Seth. Now known as one of the best workshops in the world for Pietra Dura and marble work, it counts among its clients, the likes of Peter Marino.
Vastrakala
This Chennai-based embroidery atelier was founded by Frenchmen Jean-Francois Lesage and Patrick Savouret, and their Indian partner Malavika Shivakumar. Home to some of the world's best artisans, Vastrakala is the only hand-embroidery atelier that possesses the SA8000 certification for acceptable practices in the workplace. The atelier's focus on fine craftsmanship has found takers as diverse as designers Robert Couturier and Christian Louboutin, and has graced homes, hotels and palaces around the world, among them, Monaco's L'Opéra de Monte-Carlo; the king's private chambers at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte near Paris; and Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Les Ateliers 2M
More than two decades years ago, crafts entrepreneur Maximiliano Modesti came to India to study the luxury market in its newly liberalised economy. What he found though, was a living crafts tradition that persuaded him to stay on. Modesti soon set up crafts studio Les Ateliers 2M, which employs artisans from across the country to engage in embroidery, stitching, printing, painting and dyeing. Today, the atelier counts among its clients Hermès, Azzedine Alaïa and Stella McCartney. Both gatekeeper and champion of ancient Indian craft traditions, Les Ateliers 2M is a strategic contributor to the world's best luxury brands.
Vishwakarma Furniture Works
When the award-wining architect Bijoy Jain wants woodwork done, he turns to Mumbai-based Punamchand Ramchandra Suthar (better known as Punaram). Born into the Suthar community, which has been working with wood for centuries now, Punaram took up the trade when he turned fourteen. He then sharpened his skills under Bijoy Jain at the latter's firm, Studio Mumbai, where he and his team worked for over 10 years. Punaram went independent six years ago and set up Vishwakarma Furniture Works, which now employs 30 carpenters, whom he mentors in both traditional carpentry techniques, as well the modern ones that he picked up at Studio Mumbai.
Raj Group
The Panipat-based Raj Group is a mammoth operation that makes carpets, dhurries, and mats for brands like Ligne Roset, Pottery Barn, Jonathan Adler, and Muji, among others. Founded in 1939, the company uses a blend of hand-weaving techniques and modern machinery to create a range of traditional and modern floor furnishings. Designer, hotelier and stylist Maria ‘Loulou' Van Damme believes that when it comes to sustaining traditional craftsmanship, the Raj Group is leading the way by supporting artisans who use their knowledge of hand-weaving to create modern designs.
