Kriti Magazine is an initiative by Sustainaverse to share India's rich textile heritage through digital storytelling.
'Kriti' (meaning:creation) highlights the ancient textile traditions of India and tells the stories of the contemporary fashion brands, designers and artisans who are keeping these cultural traditions alive through their creations.
Bridal Lehenga by Asha Gautam
Kriti Wedding Edit Now Live!
Discover sustainable bridal wear from Kenya to Assam, and wedding stories bridging traditions from West Bengal to Kerala.
With a special feature on Gunjan Jain's National Handloom Award 2024 for Design Development in the Handloom Sector.
Read Below!
Diwali Edit by Lilabare
From The Editor
When I requested Ria for the cover story, she immediately replied with 'Omg Yes!'—which is all you want to hear from a bride.
What followed is weeks of trust in each other and in technology, to bring the wedding story of Lilabare's incredible designer from the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro to the deltaic plains of West Bengal.
Wedding Edit Highlights
1
Conscious Vows
The wedding industry, with its endless rolls of polyester and disposable grandeur, felt fundamentally at odds with everything Ria had built her career upon. Here was an occasion that demanded beauty and meaning, yet the materials available seemed to offer neither longevity nor soul. So she did what any visionary would do—she reimagined the entire framework.
Ria Ana Sejpal, Lilabare
2
The Exquisite Bride
In this feature, we're pulling back the curtain on the details that make Asha Gautam's bridal collections so distinctive. The specific techniques that transform fabric into heirloom pieces, the motifs drawn from mythology, architecture and nature, and the hours of work that leave a fingerprint on the treasured creations. These are the lehengas that deserve to be understood as deeply as they're admired.
3
Tying the Knot
Jaipur Rugs' Manchaha collection understands that what transforms a house into a home isn't just furniture placement or décor choices, but the presence of things that carry human intention within them. Each creation in the Manchaha collection represents the artistic vision of the artisan(s) involved, given complete freedom to create from imagination rather than instruction.
Conscious Vows
The lilac-breasted roller, Kenya's national bird. The sacred ibis, another favorite. Doum palms indigenous to Amboseli, standing stark and beautiful against the spectacular backdrop of ice-capped Kilimanjaro. Proportions and colours were carefully balanced by the genius of The Little Black Bow combined with Ria's natural gravitation toward Earthy, unsaturated tones.
Gunjan’s Strive for Excellence
On the occasion of National Handloom Day 2025, the Government of India and Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, presented Gunjan Jain, founder of Vriksh Designs, with the prestigious National Handloom Award 2024 for Design Development in the Handloom Sector. She also received recognition from the Hon’ble President of India, Shrimati Droupadi Murmu, along with co-national awardees at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. In this conversation, Gunjan kindly shares how this recognition helps her take Vriksh’s work forward with Indian textiles.
Ria Justin's Mehendi Ceremony
Panjabi and Shawl: The বাঙালি Dhuti's Best Men
You may not have seen any Bengali man being called Babumoshai in real life, but you are surely missing something if you have not attended a Bengali wedding or a Baithaki Adda where the men are dressed impeccably in silk Panjabis, paired with dhutis pleated with precision and often, a regal shawl draped across one shoulder.
Gunjan Jain. Founder at Vriksh Designs
Mangalashtak Meets the Thalikettu
I handpainted my own lehenga and designed all the motifs myself. The handpaintings were portraits of me and my husband on alternate panels in small frames. I also designed a pure silk sherwani in onion pink for Thujesh which he paired with a shawl and a beautiful Pheta. I love the tradition of wearing the Mundawala, which is a pearl string tied on the forehead, a mandatory Maharashtrian accessory for both the bride and the groom.
The Designer Who Will Never Break
A Bride’s Heart
For all his global inspirations and progressive philosophy, Amit's true north is remarkably simple: make the bride happy.
"While designing for a bride, I pause my other priorities and focus entirely on the bridal outfits that I work on," he states unequivocally.
"Brides dream of their wedding day and if their dreams do not come true, it’s simply not right," he explains. "They're trusting a designer that they will create something which they have imagined with all their heart."
Manchaha by Jaipur Rugs
Tying the Knot
The results are impossible to predict or replicate. Manisha's "Leheriya Ki Kalpana" in wool and bamboo silk captures something of traditional leheriya dyeing patterns but filtered through her particular sensibility. Sumitra's "Aandhi" evokes wind and movement. Rajjo's "Safarnama" and Suman’s Kufri become journeys rendered in knots and colour (Manchaha collection by Jaipur Rugs)
The Silk Chamber’s Golden Heirloom
The craft of producing Muga silk has been refined over centuries, passed down through generations of Assamese artisans who've developed an intimate understanding of every stage in the process. Silkworms are nurtured on som and soalu leaves with devoted attention, their growth monitored daily. The reeling of thread from cocoons requires particular skill—too much force and the delicate filament breaks, too little and the thread won't separate cleanly. The weaving itself is an exercise in patience, with complex traditional patterns demanding weeks of concentrated work.
When The Designer Became Her Own Muse
The wedding began with turmeric under fingernails and the scent of Earth thick in the morning air, a soft November light spilling across Gurugram and Delhi, where over three days an intimate, handcrafted celebration was created from the imagination of Anhad Bullar Malhotra, the designer and founder of the Delhi-based label House of Hindee. Around the time she was gaining recognition for her refined understanding of textiles, Anhad was already designing her own wedding, which became a living document of everything she believes about the promise of #HandmadeWithLove.
শাঁ খা সিঁদুরের গল্প
(The Story of A Bengali Wedding)
The wedding day began with a morning Briddhi Shraddha (ancestral worship) ceremony, for which Surupa wore a traditional red-bordered white Taant sari. This was followed by the boisterous Gaye Holud (turmeric ceremony), which made her realize she was enjoying her last moments of carefree revelry before her new life began. The main wedding ceremony included Sampradan and the Malabadal (garland exchange), followed by Shubhodrishti (first glimpse).
Handcrafted Treasures from
the NorthEast
"I thought of covering only Northeast textiles because it is not yet well known, especially our Manipuri handloom silks, to the rest of the world. People know about Assam Silks and Mekhela Sadors on the Eastern side, but rarely in other parts of India. In Manipur, we wear a two-piece, which is called Phanek (the lower part) and Innaphi (the upper part). I'm trying to convert the Innaphi into a saree so it's relatable to everyone. I work with female weavers who live in small villages on the outskirts of Imphal, working with traditional weaving techniques and local materials, all done on handlooms producing vibrant hues. Moirang is where the name ‘Moirangphee’ comes from, which is now popularly known in our textiles. 'Phee' means cloth and my brand name, 'Nupi' means women in Manipuri language."
Couture for the Squad
The modern bride seeks designers who understand this evolved dynamic—who can dress her in couture that claims the spotlight she deserves while ensuring her closest confidantes shine alongside her without dilution or compromise.
Enter Geisha Designs by Paras and Shalini, a luxury atelier that has decoded this complex equation with breathtaking precision, offering couture for both the bride and her squad that transforms wedding celebrations into curated ensembles of distinction.
Curated Stories Infused in Wax
Discover Whifflore, where every flicker tells a story. Whifflore crafts curated fragrances for the mindful modern home, transforming simple wax into evocative narratives. Rooted in time-honoured Kolkata rituals and a commitment to ethical sourcing, these exclusive, high-quality candles are designed to elevate your everyday moments into profound sensory experiences.
DeviRupini's
Vedic Weddings
First is the Ganga Mantra—meaning the entire area, the place where the wedding takes place, is purified. Then Āchaman (sipping water), Viṣṇu Smaraṇa (remembering Vishnu)—our wedding ceremony begins by taking Vishnu as witness and bowing to Vishnu. Then Sūrya Praṇām (salutation to the Sun), and then Svasti Vāchan—to ensure the ceremony is performed successfully and beautifully, we recite Svasti Vāchan. After that, we have Ghaṭasthāpan (installation of the pot).
Ria Justin's Pithi Ceremony
Who is Kriti Magazine For?
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Nitin Singla
Kriti Magazine stands out for its honest, in-depth storytelling around Indian textiles, crafts, and sustainability. As someone who works closely with weavers and curates handcrafted saris, I find Kriti’s voice both inspiring and rooted. Their ability to bring together heritage, contemporary thought, and artisan narratives with such care is truly special. It’s a platform I trust and deeply admire.
Dr. Surupa Dutta
The Handloom Edit of Kriti Magazine is a striking celebration of India’s weaving legacy—both visually rich and emotionally evocative.
It beautifully weaves together tradition and sustainability, offering an inspiring read for fashion lovers, advocates of craftsmanship, and mindful consumers.
Moreover I am proud of the Editor Miss Sumana Mukherjee, who is my closest friend, for such an amazing work.
Soumya Mukerji
Finally stories that I look forward to reading. Focusing on Indian textile brands and stories of the people behind them, Kriti Magazine's articles are well researched and insightful.
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