Kailash Chand Patwa

A seasoned artisan, fusing vibrant threads and beads to build on the family legacy.

Kailash was born in 1957 in a proud Patwa family residing in Kaladera, Rajasthan. A generational artisan, Kailash knows all there is to know about the Patwa community and the craft - from its glorious history when it was mostly confined to jewellery related products to its evolution into a more diversified craft form today. His family is one of the only three left in the village that continue to practice the craft. Through his own journey, Kailash’s most valuable learning has been that ‘change is the only constant’. He believes this learning has helped him thrive while continuing to follow his passion of creating beautiful Patwa products.

A traditional Rajasthani man, Kailash himself was a reluctant innovator. He had learnt the skills required for the craft from his father and grandfather, and would mostly stick to the old designs and products in his early days. As time passed, Kailash was presented with an opportunity to experiment with the designs of existing products and creating different product lines as well. What was initially a tough transition, pleasantly surprised Kailash with the results. He started imbibing different materials, colours into the designs and explored product interventions. Participating in exhibitions in a few major cities helped him gain more exposure, while his work received some much-needed attention.

With the way of life and business going digital, Kailash is enthusiastic about spreading the vibrancy of the thread work craft using the new mediums. He understands that it shall be challenging to do so as well as to keep the craft relevant in a fast-changing world. However, he believes that continuous innovation in designs and apprising the customer of the rich history and toil behind the craft shall enable them to appreciate it. Such awareness shall help the entire community of Patwa artisans in progressing forward. Kailash’s entire family is involved in the work and he is happy that his next of kin are taking the family’s legacy forward. They also train women keen in taking up the craft and provide them employment opportunities whenever possible.