JD Institute of Fashion Technology
When Jediiians Learned Directly from Rajasthani Artisans at Bikaner House, New Delhi

What happens when centuries-old crafts meet contemporary design education?

At Bikaner House, New Delhi, our students didn’t just learn about heritage, they experienced it, hands-on.

JD Institute facilitated two immersive workshops on Dari-making and Kite-making, led by traditional artisans from Rajasthan, offering students an opportunity to slow down, observe, and create with intention.

Why These Workshops Mattered

In a fast-paced design world driven by trends and technology, these workshops brought attention back to process, patience, and purpose.

Conducted for students from the PGFD and FDFT batches of 2025, the sessions aimed to:

• Reconnect students with indigenous Indian crafts
• Highlight the relevance of traditional techniques in modern design
• Promote sustainable and culturally rooted design thinking

The focus wasn’t just skill-building, but sensitisation.

Learning Directly From the Source

The workshops were conducted by skilled artisans from Rajasthan, practitioners who continue to preserve and practise traditional crafts passed down through generations.

Students were introduced to:

• Dari-making, a traditional textile craft rooted in regional weaving practices
• Kite-making, an art form that combines structure, balance, and cultural expression

Through live demonstrations, artisans shared not only techniques, but also stories, about materials, regional identity, and livelihoods connected to these crafts.

What Jediiians Did (and Learned)

Rather than observing from the sidelines, students actively participated throughout both workshops.

Hands-on Experiences Included:

• Learning the basic techniques of Dari weaving
• Understanding tools, raw materials, and manual processes
• Practising traditional kite-making, focusing on structure and balance
• Exploring pattern creation and craftsmanship precision

Under the artisans’ guidance, students experimented, asked questions, and gained clarity on how much skill and intent go into each handcrafted piece.

Culture, Sustainability, and Design

The sessions also opened conversations around:

• Regional craft traditions
• Sustainability and slow design practices
• The realities of artisan livelihoods
• How traditional crafts can inspire contemporary fashion and textile applications

For many students, this was a shift in perspective, from viewing crafts as references to seeing them as living design systems.

A Step Towards Conscious Design Education

Such initiatives reinforce JD Institute’s commitment to providing learning experiences that go beyond classrooms and textbooks. By integrating indigenous knowledge into design education, the institute continues to nurture designers who are not only skilled, but also culturally aware and socially responsible.

The workshops at Bikaner House proved to be enriching, insightful, and deeply meaningful, leaving students with lessons they’ll carry far beyond their academic journey.