Traditional Beadwork from Kutch and Barmer to Be Showcased at London Craft Week

Artisans from pastoral communities in Kutch (Gujarat) and Barmer (Rajasthan) are set to bring their centuries-old beadwork traditions to the global stage at London Craft Week 2026. The exhibition titled “Unbound by Beads: Migration, Memory & Material” will appear as part of the prestigious annual crafts event in London, highlighting the rich cultural heritage and artistic practices rooted in Western India’s beadwork history.

Organised by jewellery and craft brand Moi Fine Jewellery in collaboration with the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation’s Artisan Collective, the project explores how glass beads became embedded in Indian craft practice through historic trade routes and cultural exchange. It focuses on the lived experiences, migration patterns and creative ingenuity of beadwork artisans especially Meghawal women artisans whose skills have been passed down across generations.

The exhibition will trace the material’s journey from raw bead to finished craft, mapping both historical context and contemporary expression while showing how these beadwork forms function as cultural memory and as a source of economic independence for the craft communities. Alongside the showcase, Moi will launch a new collection called ‘Serai’, which reinterprets traditional jewellery forms such as hasli necklaces and kankari earrings, blending heritage techniques with contemporary design sensibilities.

By bringing these craft traditions to an international platform like London Craft Week, the initiative aims to give wider recognition to Indian pastoral beadwork practices, celebrate their aesthetic depth and reaffirm their relevance in global craft conversations offering both cultural significance and economic visibility for the artisans involved.