Collaboration can be magical and at Direct Create we want to weave magic. All the people who appreciate and breathe art, Direct Create is a platform for them. It is everything that a hand-producer can be and more. It is a family of true art lovers that knits them together in one unit while helping them retain and expand their individuality.
We invite you to experience the many ways that traditional craftsmanship can enrich modern-day design thinking. We invite you to share your design projects with us in order to see how we can collaborate on adding that extra dimension to your project.
Via Medici 15, MilanOur Milan Design Week installation showcases the impact of traditional craftsmanship on modern design. The possibilities of combining time-honoured crafts with futuristic ideas that are only limited by the imagination of the creator.
Direct Create (DC) is India’s first digital creative platform connecting local artisans to a global network of designers and buyers to collaborate and co-create handcrafted products. Fostering a community of over 15,000 handpicked artisans and designers, we create an organic connection between makers and buyers.
India is renowned for its tradition of fine handcrafted goods. Direct Create allows buyers to customize products, shop a curated selection of premium artisan goods and experience the timeless beauty of Indian craftsmanship.
Design Create operates in three service areas to connect buyers, designers and artisans, and make handmade crafts accessible to a wider market.
We work with buyers and retailers to elevate their product offering by planning and developing a unique portfolio of handcrafted goods.
We take a collaborative approach to design innovation, creating connections between interdisciplinary creatives to develop design solutions that range from premium products to experiential spaces and large-scale projects.
We orchestrate the end-to-end development of project life cycles with a specialization in design, manufacturing processes and project execution from concept to delivery.
Imagine what can happen when designers collaborate with traditionally-trained artisans to re-imagine the possibilities of their ideas; when local artisans apply modern materials, techniques or trends to elevate the overall quality and originality of design.
Our world is filled with the wealth of diverse art and craft that celebrates local cultures, tells mythical tales and shares stories of love and adventure. We work directly with hundreds of artisans to preserve their tradition of craftsmanship.
Direct Create is dedicated to connecting India’s artisanal traditions with the global marketplace to create a new design paradigm – one that drives innovation, spurs creativity and empowers communities.
Direct Create operates under the guiding principle that, collectively, we can make good things happen. It is with this in mind that we imagined a platform fueled by collaboration– a creative community united by a shared desire to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of design. We believe that when unconventional relationships are formed, it unlocks the possibility to create something extraordinary. We invite you to join the community.
Makers are given space to explore the boundaries of their traditions and connect their creativity to the global marketplace. This empowers communities and ensures that ancient, beautiful traditions are not lost.
Designers can tap into a marketplace of high-quality craftspeople who will transform their ideas into beautifully-handcrafted products. No other platform allows designers to work so intimately and collaboratively with makers.
Buyers can collaborate with makers and designers to commission bespoke products directly from the source. There is no minimum quantity threshold; products are custom-made to your specifications at a fraction of the price.
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more →We believe that technology will give rise to a truly global creative economy: designers and artisans collaborating to create new trends; multinational brands partnering with small local producers; buyers seeking opportunities to make a positive impact.
Our digital platform - available online and via mobile app - connects these communities like never before, facilitating seamless collaboration, co-creation and commerce across the globe.
Our work leads us on a constant quest to discover the influences, trends and moments that drive inspiration around the world. Here we present a small selection the influences currently fueling India’s venerable craft heritage – these trends will impact the world of design into 2020.
Art is an expression of our relationship to the natural environment - and design that plays with the contrast of hard and soft, natural and manmade.
An eclectic combination of traditional design, modern prints and natural materials.
Experimental designs are intended to spark joy in anyone who experiences them.
Puppetry, a storytelling tradition that delights the ages, can take several forms and employ different mediums.
Sustainability and environmental consciousness have strongly influenced design initiatives in recent years.
Collaboration is the propelling force behind design, innovation and impact. It’s about coming together to find new approaches to ordinary problems. It’s the mixing of experiences, cultures, traditions and techniques to create something truly remarkable.
Technology is the vehicle that drives collaboration. It enables humans to connect across lingual, cultural and geographical barriers. Direct Create democratises the creative process to empower creative minds to create well-designed spaces and high-quality goods.
The Thali project unpacks the design aesthetic, tradition and functionality of the platter. The spirit of this project underscores how the sharing of food – often served on the iconic platter – can unite individuals through shared sensual experience when no connection exists.
We bring traditional craftsmanship to scale with handcrafted micro homes. These architectural works of innovation are our latest collaborative venture, combining local artistry with cutting-edge technology to create sustainable living spaces.
Our Milan Design Week installation showcases the impact of traditional craftsmanship on modern design. The possibilities of combining time-honored crafts with futuristic ideas are only limited by the imagination of the creator.
To bring the Jal Mahal back to its former glory, the team collaborated with more than 400 craftsmen and artists from across Rajasthan. They recruited experts from around the world and harnessed the skills of local craftsmen and masons for the extensive overhaul.
The magical revival of the Jal Mahal monument, an 18th-century floating pleasure palace of royalty, and its surroundings, transformed the historic building from a crumbling environmental disaster and toxic wasteland into the shining glory of Jaipur.
Located at the heart of Jaipur’s emerging commercial district in the Rajasthan region, Lehariya is a finely-crafted business destination that integrates traditional values with modern-day enterprise. Famous for its flowing patterns inspired by waves or ‘lehar,’ ‘Lehariya’ is a tie-dyeing craft technique native to Rajasthan.
The craft is the inspiration for Lehariya’s facade, as well as the root of its name. This facade is not only aesthetically pleasing, but has a functional benefit as well: by absorbing and deflecting much of the direct sunlight, it keeps the towers cool.
The Swadesh Bazaar was an immersive experience into India’s deep cultural heritage, curated and designed by Direct Create. 108 crafts - a sacred number with roots in ancient mysticism - were showcased to represent each and every state of India.
Commissioned by the Reliance Foundation, an Indian philanthropic initiative driving sustainable development across India, the exhibition was initiated to encourage the craftsmanship of traditional Indian artisans, with a special focus on preserving and reviving indigenous craft traditions.
India’s art and craft traditions transcend materials, styles and forms. From mythological to vernacular, they embody local cultures and beliefs, and tell stories of shared values, experiences, skills and life. We’ve curated a diverse collection to represent the potential that exists in the craft space. Let us introduce you to the fresh, modern world of India’s craft inheritance. Allow yourself to get inspired.
Direct Create launched in 2016 as an e-commerce platform connecting artisans and designers. Today, we have evolved into India’s only digital creative community platform bringing artisans, designers and buyers together to co-create bespoke handcrafted goods. Our aim is to revolutionize the field of design, while supporting the legacy of India's oldest craft traditions and sustaining communities. Let’s collaborate and continue to collectively make good things happen.