The Indian Institute of Crafts and Design (IICD), Jaipur, initiated its inaugural Crafts Business Incubator Programme in 2022, with a vision to nurture and support young craft businesses. Encouraged by the resounding success of the first incubator programme, IICD, in collaboration with IIM Udaipur, BITS Pilani, EDII Ahmedabad, and iStart (Govt. of Rajasthan), with the generous support of the Kalhath Foundation, began inviting applications for its second cohort at the end of 2022, for the Incubator program of 2023.
IICD’s core focus is to excel in the crafts field and establish a robust ecosystem around it with significant social impact. While the curriculum and training programs across design schools in India emphasize skill development, design enhancement, and technological advancement, there is a lack of comprehensive guidance on initiating one’s own craft or design-based businesses. Many young craftspeople, recent design school graduates, or housewives later in life aspire to start their ventures, driven by exceptional ideas and quality products. Unfortunately, a significant number of these startups and small businesses struggle due to a lack of business acumen, financial support, and mentorship.
IICD’s Incubation program is a response to this need. This comprehensive program spans five months and is specifically tailored to empower young craft businesses. It encompasses three intensive weeks of face-to-face sessions with distinguished professionals from the crafts, business, academia, and industry domains. Throughout the duration of the program, participants benefit from curated mentoring sessions provided by accomplished mentors. Designed exclusively for early-stage craft businesses, the program focuses on nurturing the entrepreneurial skills of craft entrepreneurs by offering guidance from experienced
faculty, experts, industry leaders, and mentors. Notably, this program is offered for a very small fee to all selected applicants, ensuring equal access and opportunity.
From a pool of applicants spanning various regions of the country, a team of experts selected 15 candidates based on criteria such as domain expertise, business viability, social impact, and their contribution to the craft ecosystem. Particular attention was given to craft businesses led by women and/or craftspeople.
Hence, the Institute is India’s first dedicated training center and school dedicated to embroidery teaching, recognition and preservation. With a rigorous curriculum overseen by academics and in partnership with IICD Jaipur (Indian Institute of Craft and Design) , the Institute provides mold-breaking design education for exceptional embroidery artisans from Lucknow. They receive an annual paid fellowship to deepen their craft practice and hone their applied design skills. As well as lessons in India and around the world.
As well as clearly communicated classes in all aspects of art and design history, the artisans are given the opportunity to visit museums and private collections to develop their knowledge of cultural heritage.
The artisans also receive entrepreneurial and management training to fully benefit from their exceptional craft work. The training culminates in internships and industry placements helping equip the artisans for careers in global luxury craft making for fashion, exports and domestic market growth.