The Craft and Chemistry of Preserving Kerala’s Temple Murals
To save a collection of 18th-century temple murals from ruin, master artisan Manikandan Punnakkal relied on natural pigments—and ancient techniques.
Listen to “The Fragility of India’s Artisan Communities”
India’s communities of specialized artisans, who are often the knowledge-keepers of their centuries-old craft traditions, face an uncertain future.
The Fragility of India’s Artisan Communities
India’s communities of specialized artisans—who are often the knowledge-keepers of their centuries-old craft traditions—face an uncertain future.
Inside Khari Baoli: India’s—and Asia’s—Largest Spice Market
In the heart of Old Delhi, a bustling market street called Khari Baoli serves as the home of Asia’s—and perhaps the world’s—largest spice market. Along both sides of this street sit heaping mounds and baskets of turmeric, cardamom, coriander, and all the other spices that give Indian cooking its distinctive, complex flavors. The vendors on…
Written and photographed by LAURA FRASER
The Little Block-Printing Workshop that Could
“A rising tide doesn’t raise people who don’t have a boat. We have to build the boat for them. We have to give them the basic infrastructure to rise with the tide.” – Rahul Gandhi Padmini Govind awoke at 3 a.m. to her cell phone ringing. It was mid-October, 2020, and rain was pounding the…
Listen to “The Human Cost of Recycled Cotton”
Organic, recycled, or synthetic: As the fashion industry scrambles to find more sustainable textiles, what’s the future of cotton? And what is the true cost? Editor’s note: This story was updated from the original by the author for re-release in our Fall 2021 issue.
The Human Cost of Recycled Cotton
Everyone in the fashion world wants to find a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way to make cotton clothing—or a benign (and equally comfy) alternative to it. In Scandinavia, an enterprising cadre of materials scientists is on the brink of succeeding. But almost no one appreciates these innovations’ social costs.
Story and photography by ALDEN WICKER
Listen to “India’s Rug Saint”
Nand Kishore Chaudhary built Jaipur Rugs Co. into a runaway success by working closely with India’s poorest citizens, and by developing an apprenticeship system around India’s chronic battles with child labor. How do such difficult pieces fit into India’s socio-economic puzzle?
