Berlin, the chic capital of Germany and vegan capital of Europe has something for all. With quaint cafes, independent designers and bookstores, and an underground music and art scene, Berlin could be a creative’s paradise. During my 3-month solo stay in Berlin, I stayed in four different neighbourhoods meeting different people each time, exploring subcultures that co-existed.

As every year, this September, the London Design Week invaded the city. From one corner to the other was possible to breathe design on its various forms and shapes. London has been the place for designers and makers from all over the world to show their work and raise their voice to open new discussions about what is happening around us. Year by year the Design Week gets bigger and bigger but it never loses the aim of showing the matters and challenges that design is facing in different corners of the world and globally.

Design and Craft collaborations at a micro-level has to lead to creating ecosystems that are dynamic and global, given birth to a luxury market and transparency in the supply chain

Joanna Williams is a Creative Consultant from Los Angeles, who sources Textiles & Rarities from Around the World on her travels. She founded the Kneeland. co, a design concept studio and inspiration resource through which she works with leading design and interior brands on textile projects. We speak with her to understand her views on Indian textiles and it’s relevance in contemporary design culture.

My move to Stockholm was an eye-opening step in my life and my professional journey. Even though I have had a keen interest in writing and interior design since my teenage years, the Scandinavian lifestyle made me experience design in a new way and question our relation to local crafts. In the Nordic countries, the design industry is recognised as a cultural value, and given a more conscious approach.

An artisanal and ethical brand from Sydney, hopes to bridge the gap between artisanal work and fashion by combining cultural forms of silhouette and woven textile in single garments. Badaam was founded by creative director Priyanka Kaul in 2017. Badaam's thoughtful philosophy ensures ethical production of handwoven and natural fabrics in healthy work environments.

Much of the contemporary aesthetic as seen in our curated objects comes from the packaging of the objects rather than changing the designs that the artisans create.  I’ve chosen materials and neutral color schemes that complement the works, not detract from them.

Our passion for Indigo dyeing led us to communities in Sindh, Pakistan where this tradition can be traced back to the ancient Indus civilization, more than 5000 years ago. Today, Indigo dyeing is still practiced along the banks of the River Indus. Our explorations started with traditional Ajrak textile patterning methods.

Razel giggles as she pushes open another door of a wooden, stilted house. Behind the closed doors of Falam, one of the main towns in Myanmar’s remote Chin State, are dark rooms housing traditional back-strap weaving looms.

India is an incredible place of diversity culturally, geographically, and artistically in terms of textiles. India has always been rich in resources for textiles and produced stunning results in this field globally for centuries now.  India’s extensive history in techniques and the quality of hand done work that can be achieved are real strengths.