Mumbai, 1 August 2026: For Autumn/Winter 2026, JADE by Monica & Karishma presents The Hands That Remember—a collection that reflects the House’s enduring belief that craft is sustained not only through preservation, but through continual practice, collaboration and reinvention.
For nearly two decades, JADE by Monica & Karishma has championed Indian craftsmanship as the foundation of contemporary luxury. Long before conversations around artisanal preservation, provenance and responsible luxury entered the mainstream, the House placed India’s indigenous textile and embroidery traditions at the centre of its design philosophy, working closely with artisan communities across the country to ensure these practices continue to evolve while remaining rooted in their origins.
With The Hands That Remember, I’m incredibly proud to reinterpret these extraordinary craft traditions through a contemporary lens for the woman of today. I truly believe that India’s greatest luxury lies in its craftsmanship. As designers, our responsibility is not only to preserve these traditions, but to ensure they continue to evolve, inspire and remain relevant for generations to come,” said Monica Shah.
This commitment has found renewed expression with the Grassroots Artisans Project, a long-term initiative dedicated to preserving India’s diverse craft traditions while creating sustained livelihoods for artisan communities. Working across craft clusters spanning Palanpur, Bhuj, Telangana, Salem, West Bengal and beyond, the initiative supports traditional practitioners through design collaborations, innovation and year-round employment—ensuring that centuries-old techniques remain relevant for a new generation. It is this deep engagement with India’s craft communities that forms the foundation of The Hands That Remember.
The collection is built on the belief that every craft carries the memory of the landscape from which it comes. Long before it reaches the atelier, it belongs to a community and to generations of makers whose knowledge has been passed down through lived experience.
Heritage textiles including Leheriya, Bandhani, Ajrakh, archival block prints and Banarasi weaves form the foundation of the collection, while the House’s signature hand embroideries—Moti Bharat, Ek Taar, Kasab and Zardozi—bring depth, texture and refinement to every silhouette. Carefully considered patchwork further enriches the visual language of the collection, bringing together multiple craft traditions into a singular contemporary expression.
Rather than existing as individual techniques, these crafts converse with one another, creating garments where heritage and modernity coexist with quiet sophistication. Every lehenga, saree and ensemble honours the integrity of each craft, allowing every textile and embroidery tradition to retain its distinct identity while contributing to a cohesive design language.
For the #JADEMuse, craftsmanship has always been deeply personal. She is instinctively drawn to pieces that carry meaning, history and permanence—garments that transcend occasion dressing to become future heirlooms. In choosing to wear these crafts, she becomes part of a continuing legacy, carrying forward the work of countless artisans whose hands have preserved these traditions over generations.
“I’ve often said that what we create at the House of JADE isn’t simply handmade—it’s handcrafted. To me, there’s an important difference. Handcrafted speaks of intention, mastery and knowledge that has been patiently passed from one generation to the next. Every fabric, weave, embroidery and technique in this collection has travelled through the hands of artisans who remember and continue to practise them. Their hands carry years of learning, stories and an understanding that can never be replicated by machines.
The Hands That Remember reaffirms JADE by Monica & Karishma’s philosophy that craft is the foundation upon which enduring design is built. It celebrates the timeless relationship between artisan and atelier, heritage and innovation, memory and making—an exchange that has defined the House for nearly two decades and continues to shape its vision for the future of Indian luxury.
In 2024, JADE by Monica & Karishma further celebrated this philosophy through The Legacy of Deft Hands at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai—a landmark showcase honouring the extraordinary craftsmanship of artisan communities across India. The Hands That Remember builds upon that journey, shifting the focus from the finished object to the origins of the craft itself—celebrating the people, places and generational knowledge that continue to sustain these living traditions.
About JADE by Monica & Karishma
Founded in 2008 by Monica Shah and Karishma Swali, JADE by Monica & Karishma draws from the four-decade legacy of Chanakya International. The House is recognised for its contemporary reinterpretation of Indian craft traditions, spanning couture, ready-to-wear and the Grassroots Artisans Project—an initiative dedicated to preserving, celebrating and advancing India’s artisanal heritage.
About the Grassroots Artisans Project
Launched to mark JADE by Monica & Karishma’s 15th anniversary, the Grassroots Artisans Project was established to build a sustainable ecosystem for India’s artisan communities by preserving traditional crafts while creating long-term livelihood opportunities.
Working with craft clusters across the country—including Batik, Kantha from West Bengal, Soof embroidery from Palanpur, Pochampally Ikat from Telangana, South Silk weaving from Salem, Bandhani from Bhuj and Pattu shawls from Barmer—the initiative enables artisans to innovate while remaining rooted in their traditions, ensuring these practices continue to thrive for future generations.
About Monica Shah
Monica Shah is an internationally acclaimed designer and cultural entrepreneur, best known as Co-Founder and Artistic Director of JADE by Monica & Karishma and Founder of the Grassroots Artisans Project.
Under her creative direction, JADE has become synonymous with quiet luxury, textile innovation and cultural sustainability, with collections spanning couture, ready-to-wear, eveningwear and mindful luxury accessories.
She is deeply committed to preserving India’s craft heritage through long-term collaborations with artisan communities and has been recognised with numerous honours, including:
- VOGUE India’s Forces of Fashion (2023)
- PETA India’s Compassionate Designer Award
- Grazia India’s Contemporary Craftsmanship Award (2022)
- Luxebook’s 50 Most Influential Women in Luxury (2021)
- Honour by the Ministry of Textiles for the Grassroots Artisans Project (2024)
