Karishma Swali
Chanakya School of Craft
Since 1998, Karishma Swali
has led Chanakya International, a global textile house with a four-decade history in the
preservation, revival and conservation of India’s cultural heritage. Across her 25-year
career, Karishma Swali has worked towards bringing India’s diverse craft traditions to
the forefront. In 2016, she established the Chanakya School of Craft, a non-profit
foundation and school dedicated to craft, culture, and creating new autonomy for women.
The school has educated over 1,000 women to date, forming a community of strong, skilled
women. Since 2020, Karishma Swali has collaborated with noted contemporary artists such
as Judy Chicago, Eva Jospin, Manu Parekh, Madhvi Parekh, Olesia Trofymenko, Mickalene
Thomas, and Marta Roberti. In March 2023, the 25-year partnership between Maria Grazia
Chiuri and Karishma Swali resulted in the Dior Fall 2023 couture show in Mumbai and a
large-scale installation titled The Toran, symbolising their collective commitment to
preserving global artisanal legacies and the emancipation of women.
In addition to her role at Chanakya, Karishma co-founded the luxury Indian bridal brand
- Jade, with Monica Shah and the contemporary line, moonray, with her daughter Avantika
Swali. Karishma is the recipient of the Elle Impact: Fashion Award, 2023; the Grazia
Millennial Award for Contemporary Craftsmanship, 2022; named one of the top 10 leaders
in the fashion industry by CEO Insights (2021), recognized as a Cultural Ambassador by
Asia Society India Centre and has been a member of the BoF500 since 2022. In June 2023,
she was invited by President Joe Biden to attend the Washington State Dinner held in
honour of India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.