Craft, for us, is not static, rather it is a living, evolving practice.
India holds an extraordinary vocabulary of artisanal techniques, yet much of it remains confined to tradition or surface ornamentation. At Artisanal Abode, we explore what happens when these techniques are applied to contemporary forms; products that belong to contemporary spaces and modern ways of living.

The intention is not to preserve craft as memory, but to extend it forward.To create work that feels relevant, honest, and built for longevity.

Artisanal Abode was founded by Upasana Jain, a designer trained at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and the Tisch School of Arts, NYU New York.

Her journey began with an interest in Spatial and Exhibition design, working across projects ranging from installation art to architectural collaborations. During her time at NYU, a research project mapping over 500 crafts across India revealed the vast, untapped potential of these techniques; many of which risk fading without meaningful contemporary application.

This became the foundation for Artisanal Abode - A Studio dedicated to reinterpreting craft through design that can stand on a global stage.

Each piece begins with material.

Metal, wood, leather, textile, stone, foam are explored not just for what they are, but for what they can become. Traditional techniques are studied, deconstructed, and reinterpreted, allowing familiar materials to take on unexpected qualities. In Weaving in Metal, for instance, rigid metal is transformed into fluid, textile-like surfaces—challenging perception while retaining the integrity of handcraft.

The process is inherently collaborative.

Designers and craftsmen work in close dialogue, where skill, instinct, and experience shape the outcome as much as design intent. Artisans are not fabricators, but co-creators—their understanding of material informing proportion, texture, and construction, often pushing the work beyond its original direction.

The result is a body of work that resists uniformity. Precision exists alongside irregularity. Structure meets softness. Each piece carries the quiet signatures of the hand.

We work with master craftsmen across India, engaging with techniques such as metal weaving, inlay work, wood carving, hand weaving, and quilting.

These are not treated as decorative elements, but as structural and conceptual foundations of design.

By creating new contexts for these skills, we aim to sustain and evolve them—ensuring they remain relevant, valued, and practiced for generations to come.