News — exploring crafts

Bhuj was the destination I didn't I was headed to. This phoenix city turned out to be the most awe-inspiring place I have visited yet. It rose from the ashes and went ahead full throttle with the ancient crafts developed by its ancestors. No wonder its a crafts haven for professionals and enthusiasts from all over the world. And now, also the birth place of The All India Co.'s first collection.

This is the story of how TAIC's first collection, numbered 100, came to be. Ahmedabad figured as a short but pivotal stop in my larger travel plans across North India to explore Indian crafts in the summer of 2017. Although it wasn't my mecca, I walked away with both insight and gnawing questions.

A year ago, after boldly starting The All India Co, I was struck with the immensity of taking the first step. While I knew the direction, I didn't know where to begin. Surprisingly, lessons from business school stayed with me like life lessons and were my north star. The first lesson: Econ 101: I remember our professor, marching into the class without casting so much as a glance at us and hurriedly scribbling, "no free lunch." This didn't make any sense to me, as just that morning, I had grabbed one of Timmie's freebies - a small coffee. By the...