* An initiative by DC Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India the exhibition highlights India’s rich craft traditions and their relevance to sustainable, contemporary living.
* Free and open-to-all exhibition until 21 December the exhibition offers an immersive craft-led experiences for all age groups.
New Delhi – Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh inaugurated the ‘Crafted for the Future’ Weave the Future 3.0 at the National Craft Museum, New Delhi today. The inauguration took place in the august presence of Ms. Amrit Raj, DC Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, along with Ms. Radhika Kaul Batra, Chief of Staff, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, India; Ms. Padmavati Dwivedi, Ecological Restorer; and Swami Prem Parivartan (Peepal Baba), Founder, Give Me Trees Trust.
While inaugurating the exhibition Shri Giriraj Singh said that the youth today is understanding the traditional craft and are presenting contemporary products that are relevant to global audiences. We currently export crafts worth INR 50000 crore (INR fifty thousand crore) which we should aim to take upto INR 100000 crore (INR one lakh crore). I am confident that we will take the various crafts from India to the world.
Crafted for the Future, an initiative of DC Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, is a 10-day exhibition as part of National Handicrafts Week. It will remain open to the public until 21 December 2025, with free entry for all visitors.
Crafted for the Future, the third edition of the broader Weave the Future series, places a renewed emphasis on everyday material culture — the intrinsic connection between communities, their environments, and the materials that shape daily life. By spotlighting artisans and material innovators from across India, the initiative showcases practices grounded in ecological balance, regional identity, and deep material intelligence.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Amrit Raj, DC Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, said, “Keeping India’s craft wisdom alive is not about preserving memory, it is about recognising craft as a living, breathing force shaping our tomorrow. Weave the Future celebrates those who carry this intelligence forward, adapting traditional material cultures for a more balanced, responsible, and connected way of living.”
Visitors to Crafted for the Future can experience a range of programming designed to immerse them in the origins, processes, and contemporary potential of India’s material cultures:
● Immersive installations exploring the journeys of everyday materials
● Curated craft marketplace featuring artisans and collectives working with local, regenerative materials
● Daily film screenings, demonstrations, and conversations on material origins and craft processes
● Hands-on workshops led by artisans, designers, and practitioners across ceramics, embroidery, wool, bamboo, natural dyes, food traditions, and more (registration required for workshops)
The event encourages public engagement with material origins and craft-led ecological knowledge systems, fostering a deeper understanding of how sustainable futures can be shaped through conscious relationships with materials and makers.
About Crafted for the Future
Crafted for the Future is part of the Weave the Future platform by DC Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, which showcases artisans, designers, and material practitioners working at the intersection of tradition and contemporary living. The initiative seeks to reposition craft as a living, evolving system of knowledge capable of shaping sustainable futures.
– By Anupam Sharma