The Needlecraft

As a team, Saurabh Vishwakarma and Soniya Kirpalani have been using their camera to reveal stories from unseen untold worlds, sharing culture, crafts and creativity. Inspired by the stories of visionary icons reviving rare crafts- Asha Sarabhai, Bibi Russell, Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Rizwan Beyg,Lecoanet Hemant, Essa Walla, Taher Sultan -- they decided to launch a sustainable social enterprise, in a region close to their hearts UP India.
Building a creating collaboration with the regional women embroiders; NeedleCraft tries revive the subtle embellishment of Chikankari (ancient craft of shadow work) whilst creating support structures for updating the skills and design education and engagement. Paying fair prices, this initiative aims at empowering, education, engaging women who constantly face economic and social constraints, in a region of tumultuous challenges