Inside Kardo’s Craft-Led Collections
Amidst the clamour of mass-produced fashion, Kardo rises like a whispered rebellion - a brand where every thread carries a legacy. Founded in 2013 by Rikki Kher, the Kardo philosophy joyfully delivers modern silhouettes infused with India’s ancient textile soul, crafting garments that are as much about feeling as they are about form.
From its modest origins in a tiny New Delhi workshop with just one tailor and a single sewing machine, Kardo has bloomed into an international cult favourite. But at its heart, it remains fiercely local. Here, Kher’s vision pulses: to honour India’s centuries-old craft traditions while resisting the hollow churn of fast fashion.
Kardo block printed suit and shirt from the 'Friendship' collection. Photo: Hansraj Dochaniya.
Kardo’s creations are conversations between past and present. Picture rain-fed Kala cotton, hand-spun and handwoven in Kutch, transformed into breezy shirts. Or Ajrakh block prints, each geometric pattern a fingerprint of Gujarat’s legendary Sufiyan Khatri. Bandhani’s tie-dyed whispers, the intricate tracery of Chikankari and Kantha embroidery, the quiet strength of handwoven Khadi and raw denim - these aren’t trends; they’re testaments to human hands and ancient rhythms...
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Image Credits:
LEAD: Kardo artisan garments from the Spring/Summer 2024 collection.
All other images as credited in the photo captions.