Originally reported and written in January 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

This year on 12 January, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Hubli, Karnataka to inaugurate the 26th edition of the National Youth Festival, he was draped in a peculiar shawl with motifs representing temple decor in red embroidery, which stood out against the soft white of the cloth. 

This shawl was a product of Artikrafts — a handicrafts venture that focuses on kasuti embroidery — designed by Bengaluru native and founder Arati Hiremath. 

The story of Arati conceptualising the venture dates back to 1989, which was the year she married into a family in Dharwad, Karnataka. As the B.Com graduate recounts to The Better India, this shift of cities was not only the beginning of her new life as a married woman, but also the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey. 

Today, Artikrafts is reviving the “languishing craft” of kasuti embroidery, which has a beautiful history of its own, entwined in the fabric of time. 

The riveting story of kasuti 

The kasuti embroidery is believed to have originated around the 15th century during the reign of the Chalukya dynasty and was only made by women in Karnataka. During this period, they would adorn their outfits with this form of embroidery and some of the motifs were even inspired by rangoli designs.

The embroidery form is unique as, unlike its counterparts, it cannot be done on pencil patterns that........

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