About the author
Smt. Raj Kanwar Chundawat
Textile Designer | Craft Researcher | Educator | Entrepreneur | Industrial Textile Administrator
Smt. Raj Kanwar Chundawat is a senior textile designer and craft practitioner with nearly five decades of sustained engagement with the traditional textile practices of Rajasthan, especially hand block printing and natural dye processes. Her work spans government service, institutional education, artisan training, design innovation, craft revival, entrepreneurship, and industrial textile infrastructure. Over the course of her career, she has worked closely with printing communities, contributed to the strengthening of craft-based design education in India, and supported the continuity of traditional knowledge systems within changing technological and market environments.
Areas of specialization
Bagru hand block printing traditions, natural and vegetable dye revival, resist printing techniques, artisan training and cluster engagement, textile design development, curriculum development in craft education, workshop-based teaching methodologies, craft entrepreneurship, and sustainable textile production systems.
A life in craft
Early Engagement with Textile Traditions
Began career through direct engagement with hand block printing traditions of Rajasthan. Worked closely with printers and dyers in traditional craft centres. Developed practical understanding of resist printing techniques, vegetable dyes, layout traditions, and production systems within hereditary artisan communities.
Designer, RSIC, Government of Rajasthan
Joined Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation (RSIC), Government of Rajasthan, as Textile Designer in the Handicrafts Department.
Senior Designer, RSIC
Promoted to Senior Designer. Led design development for traditional textile clusters, training programmes for block printers and dyers, product diversification for contemporary markets. Head of Design Cell and Design Development and Research Centre.
Core Founding Team, IICD Jaipur
Deputed from RSIC to participate in establishment of Indian Institute of Crafts and Design (IICD), Jaipur — a pioneering effort to integrate traditional craft knowledge into formal design education in India.
Associate Professor, IICD
Joined IICD as Associate Professor in Textile Crafts. Contributed to curriculum development, taught traditional printing techniques, facilitated interaction between students and artisan communities.
Founded Ojjas Crafts
Established Ojjas Crafts, a textile initiative dedicated to preservation and contemporary interpretation of traditional hand block printing. Operates as both production studio and design development space.
Full-time Entrepreneurship
Left institutional service to devote full-time to Ojjas Crafts. Focus on traditional Bagru printing, natural dye revival, resist printing, hand block printed yardage and garments.
Textile Park Membership
Became member-shareholder of textile industrial park (Special Purpose Vehicle supported by Government of India) in Bagru Industrial Area under RIICO.
Moved to Sustainable Textile Park
Operations shifted to the park after infrastructure completion. Sustainable facilities for water recycling/reuse, solar energy, natural dyes, biotechnology pre-washing, compliance with international norms.
Managing Director, JaipurBloc Textile Park
Coordination of textile processing units, oversight of shared industrial infrastructure, management of Common Effluent Treatment Plant processing effluent from 19 industrial units, environmental compliance systems.