The hands behind Swarna

Artisan Stories

Meet the artisans whose experience and handwork shape Swarna’s contemporary occasionwear.

Mirror work · Zardosi · Hand embroidery

Irfan Khokar

Bhuj, Gujarat
Experience
31 years
Craft lineage
Fourth generation
Working with Sangisathi
6 years

Four generations of embroidery

Based in Bhuj, Gujarat, Irfan Khokar is a fourth-generation embroidery artisan with 31 years of experience. Now 48, his relationship with hand embroidery began during childhood through his family, where knowledge of the craft has been carried across generations.

Irfan primarily creates Swarna’s mirror-work pieces, combining the careful placement of mirrors with detailed hand embroidery across contemporary sets, dresses, jumpsuits and separates. He is also expanding his contribution to include more zardosi pieces.

During his six years with Sangisathi, the products he works on have developed from primarily kurtis to coordinated sets and contemporary occasionwear.

“Hum Sangisathi ke saath chhe saal se kaam kar rahe hain. Pehle kurtis karte the, ab yeh set-type ke kapde karte hain. Ab zyada achha lagta hai.”

“I have been working with Sangisathi for six years. Earlier, we made kurtis; now we work on coordinated sets and similar garments. I enjoy the work more now.”
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Zardosi · Dabka · Mirror work · Hand embroidery

Shambu Adhikary

Bhopal & Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Experience
25 years
Craft lineage
Third generation
Working directly with Sangisathi
2 years

A family practice carried from Kolkata to Madhya Pradesh

Originally from Kolkata, Shambu Adhikary is a third-generation hand-embroidery artisan with 25 years of experience. He now works across Bhopal and Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

Shambu learned embroidery through his family and has developed particular expertise in zardosi, dabka and mirror work. For Swarna, he is primarily responsible for the detailed zardosi handwork used across blouses, shirts, jackets, sets and contemporary separates.

His association with Sangisathi began while he worked alongside another artisan who produced pieces for the organisation. Following that artisan’s passing, Shambu began working with the team directly and has now done so for two years.

“Pehle hum ek doosre karigar ke saath kaam karte the, jo Sangisathi ke liye kaam karte the. Unka dehant ho gaya, tab se hum direct inke saath kaam kar rahe hain—do saal se. Achha kaam hai; kaafi naya seekhne ko milta hai.”

“I previously worked with another artisan who created pieces for Sangisathi. After he passed away, I began working with the team directly and have now done so for two years. It is good work, and I get to learn many new things.”
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Lambani hand embroidery

Babu Buriya

Karnataka
Experience
45 years
Craft tradition
Family heritage
Working with Sangisathi
3 years

Carrying Lambani embroidery forward

Based in Karnataka, Babu Buriya is a Lambani hand-embroidery artisan with 45 years of experience. Now 59, he learned the craft through his family heritage as well as through his association with an NGO.

Babu is responsible for the hand embroidery across Swarna’s Lambani pieces, from kurtis, kaftans and dresses to contemporary Indo-Western sets.

As the number of practising artisans reduced, Babu established a trust to involve other artisans in Lambani embroidery and provide them with work. He has worked with Sangisathi for three years.

“We have been working with Sangisathi for three years now. What started as a one-way relationship is now two-way. They have helped our NGO grow significantly with ideas and by helping us with exhibitions as well.”

Babu Buriya, on his work with Sangisathi
Explore Lambani embroidery