Jaipur's new Nila House offers safe haven to struggling textile traditions

The newly launched Nila House in Jaipur offers safe haven to India's staggering but struggling textile traditions

Somewhere along India’s journey to industrialisation, indigenous arts and crafts moved from the functional to the aesthetic. While organic cotton surrendered to cheaper, readily available and industrially manufactured cloth, ancient natural dyes like indigo were drowned out by the riot of synthetic colours. Nila House in Jaipur, which was unveiled a few days ago, aims to turn back this particular wheel.

The refurbished bungalow from the 1940s has space for both the production and sale of handmade textiles. It has been restored by renowned architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai, using locally sourced natural materials such as lime plaster and