Our Story
कलाकारी - kalakari
= artistry
We chose this name to highlight the immense skill & intricate process required to produce these textiles, which truly makes them works of art.
All of the products on our website have been produced by Anokhi & the printers who work with them.
Young Ameya dressed in Anokhi with her parents & grandmother.
About us
My name is Ameya. Jaipur was my childhood home and its rich textile heritage a big part of my upbringing. From the start, I was wrapped in soft block printed quilts and clothed in colourful textiles from Anokhi – a renowned textile brand based in Jaipur.
Anokhi began with my grandparents in the late 1960s. My parents have nurtured the business since the 1990s and now my own love of Anokhi textiles has inspired me to join the family business and together with my partner, Tom, bring Anokhi products from Jaipur to the UK.
‘Kalakari’ is a curation of some of our favourite pieces and we look forward to making them available to seasoned Anokhi enthusiasts as well as those who may have never happened upon on them.
Anokhi
The creation of Anokhi
Anokhi, meaning ‘unique’ or ‘remarkable’ in Hindi, has existed as a company in India for over 50 years. It was founded to ensure the survival of the disappearing art of hand block-printing in Jaipur and the livelihoods of the highly skilled artisans who had been creating these beautiful textiles for generations. Anokhi helped build a market for these textiles by combining the traditional prints with contemporary design, thus providing secure work for the artisans and keeping the art alive.
Ethics & Sustainability
70% of Anokhi’s employees are women, made possible through Anokhi’s initiative of providing free childcare for mothers through a creche located beside the workplace.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, no official government support scheme was in place in India, however Anokhi has managed to independently care for its employees by continuing to pay full salaries throughout the pandemic.
90% of the water used in the production of the textiles and has a low carbon footprint since the products are made by hand.
All the products are 100% cotton and are made to last.
Anokhi’s ideals of conservation and sustainability were decades ahead of their time, and the company today is still regarded as an exceptional role model for alternative business practice.
Anokhi Museum
Anokhi established the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, which supports an ongoing research programme to study block printing and keep the history of block printing alive.
