Innovation Across Borders: The Jaipur Rugs X Central Saint Martins Collaboration

• 15 May 2023
• 4 Min Read
• By Jaipur Rugs

The title of the exhibition, ‘Lead From The Heart’, basically conveys the spirit of the project, where the artisans are actually weaving their own stories and their own heartfelt kind of messages into the rugs. Through the Manchaha collection by Jaipur Rugs, Rajasthani weavers weave their personal stories into rugs. So I think this project builds on that sentiment, but in a new and exciting way, bringing in the spirit of co-design.” - Rebecca Heyes, Associate lecturer, BA textile design, Central Saint Martins.

When traditional craftsmanship from India meets modern design from London, the result is a breathtaking fusion of creativity and culture. The Lead From The Heart exhibition showcases the exceptional hand-knotted rugs created by female artisans from Jaipur Rugs and the students of Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts, London). Backed by the British Council Crafting Futures India program, the collaboration honors the Manchaha sentiment of weaving personal stories into rugs, while also highlighting the transformative power of cross-cultural exchange. Jaipur Rugs’ female artisans and the skilled students of Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts, London) got to know each other, shared their knowledge, and forged friendships for a lifetime.

Sharing Traditions, Inspiring Designs: The ‘LEAD From the Heart’ Project

Anne Marr, Programme Director of Jewellery Fashion & Materials at Central Saint Martins, explains that past projects with global artisans often lacked full integration between the students and artisans. "Our students were always the designers and the artisans were always the artisans, so there was never that kind of full integration. And the project came about to really bring all of that together," she says.
 

During the Lead From The Heart project, the students of Central Saint Martins and Jaipur Rugs' female artisans came together to co-create unique and meaningful hand-knotted rugs. As one student associated with the project explains, each group consisted of two St. Martin's students and three artisans, who collaborated to bring their individual journeys and stories together to create a cohesive and powerful overall narrative.

To achieve this, the project organizers proposed a theme of a journey of the everyday, which both the students and artisans responded to in amazing ways. As Rebecca Heyes, Associate Lecturer at BA textile design, Central Saint Martins explains, building empathy and friendship between the groups was a key factor in the success of the project. This was achieved through online workshops, WhatsApp groups, and interactive sessions.

Through this collaboration, the weavers were able to share their traditional knowledge and cultural heritage with the students, who responded by creating imaginative mood boards and artwork based on the weavers' stories and images. These works were then adapted to meet technical specifications, and the weavers were stimulated to utilize their own creativity by examining the students' creations. The result is a stunning collection of hand-knotted rugs that represent a true cross-cultural exchange of knowledge and creativity.
 

Fostering Creativity & Cultural Exchange through Collaboration

The combined effort of students, faculty, and artisans resulted in a beautiful line of co-designed hand-knotted rugs that capture the essence of this initiative's odyssey. From the unique symbols and colors that represent daily life and culture to the fragrant dyes used for the threads, the rugs are a true celebration of collaboration and creativity.

Safya Ceren Guzral, a student from Turkey, shared her excitement for the project, noting that in her culture, rugs are an essential part of life, representing narratives about struggles, tragedies, and even happiness. Through this project, she and her peers learned critical skills and gained valuable insights into the lives and cultures of the artisans they collaborated with.

The project also gave students the opportunity to receive physical samples from Jaipur Rugs Foundation, showcasing the everyday life of the artisans, their fabric and rug samples, and yarn samples. The students were overjoyed upon receiving the samples and homemade snacks, which were a real treat for them.

Kennard Bahar, a BA Textile Design student of Central Saint Martins, shared his experience of smelling the samples, noting how the rustic smell of the dyes was surprisingly pleasant, and some even had a fragrant aroma like tea. He was inspired by the colors and decided to use them in his samples.

For the artisans, Manju, Rajani, Laxmi, and Nirmala Kishanpura, the project was an opportunity to take their designs to another level, and learn about nature and protecting the environment through their craft. They were inspired by the color combinations and were excited to blend their own ideas with those of the students.

The completed rugs are a true testament to the power of collaboration and cultural exchange. They blend traditional and modern design and production methods, and honor the inter-local co-creation that transpired during this project. 

A New Chapter of Artistry

As we draw the curtains on the Jaipur Rugs X Central Saint Martins collaboration, we can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude. This initiative has truly been a remarkable journey of creativity, cultural exchange, and unity. The final outcome of this collaboration is not just beautiful rugs but also the spirit of collaboration that was fostered throughout the process.

As Rebecca Heyes rightly points out, the principal outcome of this partnership is the transformative power of cross-cultural learning and collaboration. This project has enabled us to celebrate the beauty of cultural diversity and the exceptional skills of both the weavers and the students.