I started
@connectingforindia in August 2021 as a slow, reflective journey born from my love of textiles, wanting to weave stories that connected people and cultures. It stands at the crossroads of heritage and a shared language of values in design…a confluence of creative collaboration between artists, artisans, skills and places.
I found a kindred spirit in this approach when I met my friend, the talented Thai designer
@shonepuipia . We share a passion for textiles, and what made our first collaboration so special was his unique perspective. I asked Shone to create a custom-draped top from a beautiful Banarasi Kota silk. The fabric itself tells a story: woven in Varanasi and then tie-dyed in the Bandhani technique in Kutch by the artisan
@basirkhatri . The sequin skirt was made in our London studio, with the embroidery done in Bombay.
Shone, who trained at The Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, runs a beautiful made-to-measure studio in Bangkok.
“Saloni brought over a trunkful of textiles from her personal collection, and I was immediately drawn to this particular sari fabric by Basir Khatri. The colours and textures complemented the gold sequin skirt beautifully. I sculpted the fabric showcasing different elements like the backside of the fabric and the original hem of the sari.”
@shonepp
Basir Bhai is an artisan from a family of Bandhani makers and a graduate of
@somaiya_kala_vidya 
