Chanakya

What Chanakya does

Chanakya is a craft-focused non-profit ecosystem centered on hand embroidery and high-end textile production for the global luxury fashion industry. The organization is structured in three integrated entities: Chanakya International, a global textile house founded in 1984; the Chanakya Foundation, established in 2015 as the CSR and parent vehicle; and the Chanakya School of Craft, founded in 2016 as a non-profit educational institution. Under creative director and foundation chair Karishma Swali, the school has trained more than 1,000 women across 300+ embroidery techniques using a guru-shishya (mentor-apprentice) pedagogy, while the atelier engages 320-360 artisans on major production commissions.

The core commercial output is large-scale, labor-intensive couture textile work executed primarily for Christian Dior (an ongoing multi-season relationship) and a broader list of 40+ luxury houses including Gucci, Prada, and Valentino. Individual commissions have been documented at the scale of 144,000 craft hours and 306 artisans, indicating high-value, multi-million-dollar project economics. Revenue is generated through bespoke commission contracts with fashion houses; the foundation and school arms operate as non-profits sustained by this commercial activity, donations, and program partnerships.

Beyond production, Chanakya is actively repositioning itself as a cultural institution: it has exhibited at the Vatican Library (2025), Venice Biennale, Musée Rodin, and India Art Fair, launched the Swali Craft Prize in partnership with India Art Fair, and operates an artist residency program. The combined model is unusual — a nonprofit that funds craft education and cultural programming through luxury couture commissions — and is the central feature any commercial assessment must account for.

Name

Chanakya

Legal name

Chanakya School of Craft

Website

https://chanakya.school

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Chanakya is a craft-focused non-profit ecosystem that trains women in 300+ hand-embroidery techniques and produces high-end textile commissions for global luxury fashion houses including Dior, Gucci, Prada, and Valentino, while exhibiting internationally at venues such as the Vatican and Venice Biennale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Craft Education and Haute Couture Textile Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Textile Furnishings Mills (3141)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Fashion & Textile Arts (Sewing, Patternmaking, Knitting, Crochet) (EDAAAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crafts & DIY (Paper, Fiber, Wood, Resin, DIY Projects) (EDAAAGAB), Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs (EDAAAEAG), Textile & Fiber Arts Classes (Weaving, Knitting, Embroidery, Dyeing) (THAJAKAB)

Keywords

• Hand embroidery training
• Artisan education programs
• Luxury fashion collaborations
• Cultural craft preservation
• Textile art installations

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Educational Services and Skill Development: The Chanakya School of Craft operates as a nonprofit institution providing education and training to women. Revenue is derived through institutional funding, foundation support, and partnerships rather than direct commercial transactions.
2. Craft Collaborations with Luxury Brands: Chanakya's associated atelier (Chanakya International) generates revenue through high-profile craft collaborations with global fashion houses including Dior, creating hand-embroidered couture pieces, installations, and artistic works. These partnerships involve commission-based work for runway shows and exhibitions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Chanakya operates a non-profit educational ecosystem that delivers an 18-month craft training curriculum teaching over 300 hand embroidery and traditional Indian textile techniques to women from underserved communities, combined with master-artisan-led commissioned work executed for global luxury fashion houses (Christian Dior, Gucci, Prada, Valentino) producing haute couture embroidery, runway installations, and gallery-scale art pieces. Its associated Chanakya International textile house, founded in 1984, generates revenue through these high-end brand partnerships, while the school itself relies on foundation support, grants, and partnerships rather than tuition.

Product overview

Chanakya is a craft-focused non-profit ecosystem comprising the Chanakya School of Craft (established 2016), Chanakya International (global textile house founded 1984), and the Chanakya Foundation (CSR arm founded 2015). The Chanakya School of Craft operates an 18-month curriculum teaching over 300 hand embroidery techniques to women, while Chanakya International collaborates with global fashion houses including Dior, Gucci, Prada, and Valentino. The organization runs the Swali Craft Prize (a craft award in partnership with India Art Fair) and offers artist residency programs. Key offerings include exhibitions showcasing artisan collaborations, the Chanakya x Dior retrospective featuring 50 hand-embroidered couture pieces, and various artistic installations created through collaborations with international artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Swali Craft Prize: A craft prize established in partnership with India Art Fair, conferring INR 1,100,000 to artists whose work reflects excellence in art and craft, along with a residency at Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai.

Products and services

• Chanakya School of Craft Non-profit school and foundation dedicated to craft, culture, and women's empowerment through education in hand embroidery and traditional Indian craft techniques; teaches over 300 techniques via an 18-month curriculum to women from all ages and socio-economic backgrounds (1,000+ trained to date).
• Chanakya International Global textile house that executes commissioned hand-embroidered couture pieces, runway installations, and artistic works for global fashion houses including Dior, Gucci, Prada, and Valentino, leveraging 320+ master artisans from Chanakya Ateliers.
• Chanakya Foundation CSR and governance arm of Chanakya, focused on cultural sustainability and holistic advancement through education, skill development, and safeguarding India's artisanal heritage.
• Swali Craft Prize Craft prize awarding INR 11,00,000 to artists whose work reflects excellence in art and craft, paired with a residency at Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai, in partnership with India Art Fair.
• Artist Residency Program Residency programs for artists to develop interdisciplinary works in collaboration with Chanakya School of Craft artisans, including recent residencies with Daniela Papadia (2024-2025) and Barthélémy Toguo (2023-2024), with residency creations exhibited through partner venues.
• 18-Month Craft Training Curriculum An 18-month structured program teaching over 300 hand embroidery and craft techniques, combined with modules on global craft and culture, design thinking, business acumen, and basic finance, preparing women for careers in luxury fashion, art installations, and entrepreneurship.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ women trained across all ages and socio-economic backgrounds
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rithika Merchant for Christian DiorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Indian visual artist Rithika Merchant collaborated with Chanakya for Dior Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2025-26 show. 306 artisans created 37 monumental panels and 16 circular compositions spanning 144,000 hours of work, depicting themes of ancestral feminine power from Kerala's matriarchs.
• Maria Grazia Chiuri (Christian Dior)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Creative Director of Dior Women's Collections, Maria Grazia Chiuri has led ongoing collaborations since 2017, commissioning installations for Dior haute couture runway shows. Major projects include the Toran installation (46-foot, 35,000 hours, 25 techniques) and multiple runway scenographies.
• India Art FaircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024India Art Fair is the primary partner for the Swali Craft Prize, offering INR 11,00,000 prize, residency at Chanakya School of Craft, and exhibition platform at the fair. The partnership was established for 2026-2027 edition and inaugural edition featured Natasha Preenja's 'The Lotus Headed' sculpture.
• JSW FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024JSW Foundation and Sangita Jindal commissioned works for the 'Citius - Altius - Fortius' exhibition celebrating 100 years of India at the Olympics. Works commemorating Sakshi Malik (2016 Rio bronze) and Neeraj Chopra (2021 Tokyo gold) were unveiled in Paris.
• Isabella Ducrot for Christian DiorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Neapolitan artist Isabella Ducrot's 'Big Aura' installation for Dior Couture Spring-Summer 2024 at Musée Rodin featured 23 disproportionate dresses created using block-printing, hand-painting, hand-weaving, basket-weaving, badla embroidery, and tasseling techniques.
• Faith Ringgold for Christian DiorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The late Faith Ringgold collaborated with Chanakya for Dior Couture Autumn-Winter 2024-2025 show. Chanakya artisans created interdisciplinary works using contemporary variations of needlepoint techniques including appliqué, patchwork, and custom glass mosaic beadwork from repurposed materials.
• Mickalene Thomas for Christian DiorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023African-American artist Mickalene Thomas created decor for Dior Haute Couture spring-summer 2023 show. Chanakya artisans embroidered giant portraits of exceptional female figures with sequins and diamante, celebrating black and mixed-race women who achieved incredible feats.
• Marta Roberti for Christian DiorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Italian visual artist Marta Roberti's work for Dior Fall-Winter 2024 Haute Couture show featured ancient goddesses and feminine energy. 360 Chanakya artisans used over 80 hand-embroidery techniques including crochet, running stitch, satin stitch, and honeycomb.
• Madhvi and Manu Parekh for Christian DiorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Award-winning Indian artists Madhvi and Manu Parekh collaborated with Chanakya for Dior spring-summer 2022 haute couture presentation. 320 artisans created 340 square meters (3,600 square feet) of work over three months. Manu Parekh received India's Padma Shri (1992); Madhvi Parekh received National Award from Lalit Kala Akademi (1979).
• Olesia Trofymenko for Christian DiorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Ukrainian artist Olesia Trofymenko designed set for Dior autumn-winter 2022-2023 haute couture show. Chanakya artisans created floral garlands, wheat crowns, and Tree of Life using cross stitch, couching, braiding, and satin stitches.
• Eva Jospin for Christian DiorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021French artist Eva Jospin's 'Chambre de Soie' (Silk Room) - a 40-meter immersive gallery entirely hand-embroidered by 320 Chanakya artisans using 150 embroidery techniques. Presented at Dior Haute Couture Autumn-Winter 2021-2022 show at Musée Rodin, representing 350 square meters of embroidery.
• Judy Chicago for Christian DiorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Pioneering artist Judy Chicago collaborated with Chanakya for Dior haute couture spring summer 2020 show. 22 immense hand-embroidered panels were crafted by graduating women at Chanakya, embodying themes of freedom, independence, and empowerment.
• Jai Vakeel FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019India's oldest and largest nonprofit working in intellectual disability partnered with Chanakya to create inclusion bracelets crafted by graduating women. The collaboration supports graduates' independent futures through meaningful craft work.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Montex: Parisian haute couture embroidery house (founded 1939), part of the Première Vue group and historically servicing houses like Dior and Saint Laurent. Direct competitor for haute couture embroidery commissions with comparable artist-collaboration model.
• Atelier Lorenzi: Italian embroidery and passementerie atelier based near Florence serving haute couture houses including Dior and Valentino. Direct peer operating in the same hand-embroidery-for-couture niche with comparable craft heritage positioning.
• Sabahar: India-based nonprofit social enterprise producing hand-loomed silk textiles employing rural women artisans. Comparable to Chanakya on the craft-preservation-plus-women-empowerment model anchored in traditional Indian textile techniques.
• Maison Lesage: Chanel-owned Parisian hand-embroidery atelier founded in 1924 that supplies haute couture embroidery to leading fashion houses. Most direct functional peer to Chanakya International's couture embroidery atelier, operating in the same niche with similar customer base and artisan model.
• SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association): Large Indian nonprofit empowering women artisans through craft, textile, and embroidery work for economic self-sufficiency. Direct peer on the nonprofit-school mission and Indian women's craft empowerment dimension of Chanakya School of Craft.

Others

• 21st Century Heritage (UNESCO): UNESCO programs supporting intangible cultural heritage preservation including Indian textile and embroidery traditions. Adjacent enabling/comparator in the craft-preservation ecosystem that elevates Chanakya's institutional positioning for funding and partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• National Institute of Design (NID): India's premier design education institution offering degree programs across craft, textile, and product design. Broad peer on the Indian craft-design education mission, though curriculum is academic-degree focused rather than vocational artisanal training.
• LVMH Métiers d'Art: Backbone of LVMH's specialty craft ateliers including Lesage, Goossens, and Montex serving Louis Vuitton, Dior, and other houses. The counterparty grouping on the buyer side of Chanakya International's couture commissions and the structural model for how luxury groups internalize such ateliers.
• Goossens (CHANEL): CHANEL-owned Parisian goldsmith and embroidery Métiers d'Art house producing couture embellishments. Same couture craft supply chain as Chanakya, but owned by a competing luxury conglomerate rather than working as an independent partner.

Emerging players

• Anou: Morocco-based artisan cooperative platform organizing craft producers across North Africa with a focus on traditional techniques and women empowerment. Comparable to Chanakya on craft-preservation, women-artisan focus, and curated artisan-to-market pipeline, though textile category differs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/chanakya.school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chanakya