This brand makes an array of bags, accessories, and gifting items such as miniature cases, trunks, envelope boxes, and more, all handcrafted in genuine Indian leather. With “aesthetics that communicate being timely and timeless”, Tann-ed works with local artisans, from karigars to woodsmen, putting age-old techniques to modern use, to curate designs that are “the opposite of usual and conventional”. Their products are a perfect amalgamation of utility and fashion...an artistic extension of the person carrying them. Bag, Rs 7,800
This run-by-women textile label uses traditional Gujarati crafts to make contemporary pieces of art. Think, threads, old coins, mirrors, shells, antique trinkets, and more, coming back to life as modern, bohemian jewellery. Tending towards abla and rabari works, each sustainable piece by the label makes for a unique collectible, made by an “army of women artisan”, with endless love. Necklace, Rs 2,509;
earrings, Rs 1,250
This design house by Sudheer Rajbhar makes gender-neutral products out of recycled rubber, industry waste, and other discarded materials. And intricately interwoven with the stunning products is an equally compelling message: of social justice! Created with the objective to “glorify equality and difference”, the label extensively works with artisans from the Dalit community—cobblers, leather craftsmen, weavers, stitchers, etc—to make cruelty-free bags, bracelets, and other accessories, spotlighting the long-ostracised sections through brilliant craftsmanship. Bora Bag, Rs 16,000
Inspired by surreal art forms and the concept of energy, designer Vasundhara Mantri combines metal and blown glass to make conspicuously delicate, handcrafted jewellery that was born to be noticed. Interestingly, each piece—breakable and fragile as it is—is seen as a marker of “great strength” of the wearer, simply for having been worn, and is claimed to carry its own “predetermined purpose”. Necklaces (left to right), Rs 13,500 and Rs 17,500
Loosely translating to ‘My Kind of Bag’, Mio Borsa offers a collection of handcrafted leather bags that run the gamut...of style as well as usage. Bucket bags to clutches, for desk to dinner. Created with incredible attention to detail, the pieces aren’t just functional and fashionable, they’re also responsibly-made: vegan and cruelty-free (animal welfare organisation, People For Animals-identified), and environment-friendly. Bags, Rs 1,450 each
Following the motto of ‘home is where the art is’, Kassa is a multidisciplinary art and design house launched by two contemporary artists, and is “focused on sustainable concepts and a classic, contempo, au courant look”. With products spanning bags and wallets, to watches, jewellery, masks, and even dog collars and leashes, the label sees “exclusivity in natural beauty”, and upcyling, recycling, reusing, and reinterpreting materials is a significant part of the process. Bag, Rs 6,200
A portmanteau of ‘nouvelle’, which means new, and ‘pelle’, which means skin, the brand upcycles leather off-cuts to make all kinds of accessories: “giving the material a brand-new, second purpose, and each product, a new skin”. To maximise usage, the ‘rescued’ scraps are first sorted by size, colour, and texture, before being revived, and, then, meticulously planned with the designs and patterns. Also, most of the products—rings, earrings, necklaces, wallets—are one-offs and made-to-order, with a zero-waste policy from production to packaging. Necklace, Rs 2,490
This atelier, founded about a year ago, is known for its plush, handcrafted leather belts and other accessories, where “every piece is made to have a personality of its own”. (TRŌV also has a parallel vegan line.) Created keeping in mind the versatility that an accessory can bring to one’s appearance, designer Deval Sanghvi’s pieces promise to lend themselves to any look and style sensibilities... and do the job effortlessly. Belts (left to right), Rs 9,000 and Rs 9,500
An initiative to support artisan empowerment, Straw showcases sustainable and handcrafted products made by craftspeople from around the globe, including a small hamlet in Ghana, where the bag in this photograph was created. There’s a plethora of craftsy products to choose from—raffia bags and cardboard masks to brass earrings and necklaces made of wooden beads and cotton scraps—all ethically crafted, aimed to create opportunities for the workers, through fair trade. Bag, Rs 14,800
This vegan label, specialising in footwear, was launched in 2015 “with the idea to make a change”: to curate beautiful shoes that are cruelty-free and responsibly-made and customised to fit all sizes. The material is procured locally, in order to reduce carbon footprints, and is then worked on by local artisans, to produce an impressive range that comprises heels and flats, to mules, slides, and even a bridal trousseau collection. Sandals, Rs 1,800
Helmed by designer Aashna Dalmia, Esme takes inspiration from the “real women” to craft intricate, luxe jewellery, made of coloured crystals and semi-precious stones. The designs, thus, are feminine, unique, and “emboldening” in equal measure. The brand classifies its jewellery under two main categories: Classics—timeless, elegant staples that every woman needs in her wardrobe; and Exclusives—unique, statement pieces, that are one of a kind. Earrings, Rs 7,850