Event Highlights
In July 2023, we hosted a unique, by-invite networking forum curated to bridge the inclusive finance gap for India's many creative and cultural, and craft-led enterprises
What happened at the first conclave?
10+ Hours of Curated Conversations on financing approaches for the Craft Sector
20+ speakers and 150+ participants committed to impact
Inclusive Representation with over 50% women attendees
Circular, plastic-free, waste-free event with conscious gifts for attendees
Sessions
Installations
Interactive & Impact-driven
Kula featured captivating installations co-curated with studio How About That! that drew inspiration from India's Creative Manufacturing and Handmade (CMH) sector, encompassing fashion, home decor, e-commerce, culture-tech and more. Our 'Bag Full of Impact' co-curated with Creative Dignity showcased goodies from amazing impact enterprises 'making in India'.
Rooted Connections - Trees of Collaboration
This installation set the stage to catalyse meaningful partnerships. Our attendees - enterprises, investors and ecosystem actors - shared what they wanted to receive or offer. A small but significant step to actively build a collaborative future brimming with creativity, impact, and limitless possibilities.
Crafted Continuum - A Play of Tradition and Modernity
Designed by Varnam Craft Collective, a creative enterprise revitalising the craft of lac-turnery from Channapatna, the installation featured gubbis, sparrows that symbolise ecological balance. It served as a reminder of the importance of preserving crafts, while also highlighting their adaptability and evolution - much like the birds themselves.
From Soil to Showcase - Building Inclusive Value Chains
How do we create 90 million non-farm jobs in India by 2030? GreenKraft, with their decentralised, farm-to-retail value chain strategy, shows us how. This installation offered a glimpse into the transformative power of craft-led enterprises driving inclusion for India's informal communities.
Food for Thought: Nourishing Ideas, Inspiring Change
The dinner table, a space for connection, nourishment and exchange of ideas, takes centre-stage. Designed by Go Native and Studio Coppre - enterprises revitalising living traditions in diverse craft communities - the table showcased thought-provoking numbers, letting each question inspire contemplation.
Redefining Leadership: Women at the Helm of Handmade Revival
How then do we empower women as visionary leaders? The installation emphasised the urgent need for a gender-responsive support ecosystem via the interconnectedness of sarees. It featured handwoven sarees from Karghewale and contributions from the team at 200M, including inherited, pre-loved, and priceless personal pieces.
Culture-Tech - Bridging Traditions and Technology
The installation busts the myth that handmade is confined to analog realms. Featuring the work of MeMeraki, India's first culture-tech enterprise, we highlighted the role of technology in revolutionising craft. This installation also foregrounded the need for risk-tolerant capital to incentivise R&D in the handmade sector.
Shifting Perspectives - Shattering Stereotypes, Redefining Handmade
Through this installation, we celebrated the work of Saahas Zero Waste, a social enterprise bringing people together to upcycle waste into planet-friendly, building materials. Visitors engaged with the red and blue screens to uncover data and insights that laid out the perceptions vs the realities.
A 'Goodie' Bag Full of Impact
The Kula goodie bag featured products from seven amazing enterprises - Ekibeki, Craftizen, Unnati Creatives, Al-Maun, Studio Coppre, The Third Share and Bunko Junko - that collectively provide dignified livelihoods to nearly 6,500 people.
How we made Kula a mindful event
Conscious: With the hope to kickstart small acts of sustainability, Kula was designed to be plastic-free, waste-free and circular.
Inclusive: Kula represented voices from diverse cultures, communities and geographies, with over 50% of the attendees being women!
Some of our attendees
