About Crafts Aqueduct
BACKGROUND
India is one of the world’s oldest civilizations, with its handicraft sector dating all the way back to The Indus Valley Civilization. It remains the hallmark of India’s rich heritage as it is embedded in our culture and rural communities. The handicraft sector in India has come a long way, keeping up with the changing demands due to modernization. The artisans who are the torch bearers of this rich handicraft industry, have, over a period upgraded their skills and are now more adept with modern craft techniques to gain international recognition and popularity in the urban markets.
With our treasured crafts people scattered all over the country, we have an enormous range of beautifully hand-crafted products from every state that showcase not only the huge variety of indigenous crafts that form a part of India’s beautiful legacy but every product serving a different utility and having the capacity to replace many of the other non-environment friendly products that are available in the market.
WHO ARE WE?
CraftsAQ has been set-up with the sole purpose to incubate our artisans who are tucked away across the country, in the remotest of areas, away from the visibility that they so rightly deserve. Our mission is to curate and bring to the customers some of India’s finest products that have been exquisitely handcrafted by our immensely talented artisans who have proudly carried forward our ancestral heirlooms.
At CraftsAQ, we firmly believe in inspiring our artisans, who have painstakingly mastered their ancestral artforms by bringing their work closer to you, thereby providing them with the much-needed prominence that will help nurture and create a sustainable ecosystem. We offer the guarantee of genuine and superior quality products that will not only accentuate your décor but will also justify the prices that fit well for the artisans as well as for you.
We pride ourselves in being environmentally responsible as we are creating a niche for sustainable, handmade and nature friendly products that will help reduce the carbon burden on our planet and take us towards a greener tomorrow. Our focus is to integrate eco-friendly methods in every stage of supply chain - from product development to the final creation.
The artisans of our country are the backbone of the handicraft industry, who through their hard work and passion are keeping our ancestral crafts alive. However, because of lack of sustainability, many are forced to let go of their legacy and search for alternative financial resources. We need to preserve this traditional reservoir before we lose them completely and Team CraftsAQ aims to bring them to the forefront so that they can make their primary source of income more sustainable.
Meet The Founders
Anurag Rana | Founder & Lead Designer:
An NID Ahmedabad alumna with over 30 years of expertise, Anurag is a specialist in artisan incubation and sustainable product development. She has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary markets across India—from the wool-crafts of the Himalayas to the handlooms of the South. Through her venture, CraftsAQ, Anurag integrates eco-effective processes with vocational training, currently spearheading World Bank-funded projects and rural-urban toy-making collectives. She believes that lasting economic growth is only possible when marginalized communities are empowered with design innovation and direct market access.
Amit Malhotra | Co-Founder & Strategy Lead:
Our Team
At CraftsAQ we are proud to represent over 900 artisans from across the country who are carrying the legacy of traditional crafts. Our intervention has helped them create contemporary products for global markets. We source directly from these artisans and deliver to the consumers. No middle people, no additional costs. All proceeds go directly to the artisans thru digital transfers!