KĀRYA: India’s First Museum-Scale Platform for Fashion and Craft Debuts in Mumbai This April
Mumbai will witness a landmark cultural moment this April with the launch of KĀRYA, India’s first museum-scale platform dedicated to fashion, craft, and textile heritage. The two-day showcase will be held on April 4 and 5, 2026, at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya.
Conceptualised by Vivz Fashion School and curated in collaboration with government bodies, KĀRYA elevates Indian craftsmanship to an institutional level it has long merited. Rather than positioning craft as a resource for global fashion, the platform asserts it as the foundation of luxury itself.
For the first time, India’s diverse craft traditions are presented within a formal museum and archival setting. KĀRYA brings together master artisans, international fashion houses, heritage institutions, and rare textile archives in a carefully curated environment. Visitors will encounter museum-quality textile works, live artisan demonstrations, archival displays, and contemporary design expressions side by side, placing Indian textiles within the realm of fine art and cultural heritage.
The platform concludes with the KĀRYA Fashion Gala, an invitation-only evening that convenes twenty international fashion brands, cultural leaders, and select celebrity guests. Designed as a confluence of fashion, art, music, and cultural diplomacy, the Gala marks a scale of engagement rarely seen in India. Select works showcased at KĀRYA will be inducted into government collections and national archives, ensuring the platform’s cultural legacy extends beyond the event itself.
Why KĀRYA, Why Now
Indian textiles have shaped global luxury narratives for centuries through handwoven fabrics, intricate embroideries, and sustainable traditions such as Khadi. Despite this legacy, authorship of these narratives has often existed outside India. KĀRYA seeks to reclaim that space.
Curated by Vivz Fashion School with the support of institutional partnerships, royal archives, and government alliances, KĀRYA presents historically significant textile works rarely seen by the public. The platform arrives at a pivotal moment as India’s creative economy accelerates, artisan communities gain renewed global recognition, and the domestic luxury market matures. KĀRYA responds by formally institutionalising India’s cultural capital on a global stage.
What Defines KĀRYA
KĀRYA functions as a museum-calibre curatorial platform that traces the journey from artistic idea to enduring luxury. It brings together artisans, designers, archives, and institutions to demonstrate how knowledge is transmitted across generations and how mastery transforms material into cultural expression.
The experience unfolds over two days.
April 4 features the formal inauguration, a VVIP and international media preview, followed by public access. Visitors can explore themed craft environments linked to regional traditions, witness live demonstrations, and view select museum-quality works available for acquisition.
April 5 includes final public viewing hours in the morning, followed by the exclusive KĀRYA Fashion Gala in the evening. The Gala hosts twenty international fashion brands, each engaging curated circles of global influencers, cultural figures, and HNI patrons through exhibitions, performances, and private walkthroughs.
Fashion, Art, and Cultural Preservation
Positioned at the intersection of fashion, fine art, and heritage, KĀRYA treats textiles as collectible cultural artefacts. Live demonstrations bring craftsmanship into motion, while exclusive commissions bridge traditional techniques with contemporary design. Sustainability forms a core narrative through the presence of Khadi, linking historical practice with modern responsibility. Fashion is presented not as trend, but as legacy.
Collaborations and Cultural Exchange
KĀRYA is realised through partnerships with government bodies, heritage institutions, royal families, and global fashion houses. Twenty international fashion brands participate as official Gala partners, contributing to cross-cultural dialogue and global visibility. Access to rare archives and artisan communities ensures authenticity, provenance, and historical depth throughout the platform.
Leadership Perspective
Dr. Arti Rai, Founder and Director, Vivz Fashion School, states that KĀRYA is about repositioning an entire ecosystem. Indian artisans, long invisible contributors to global luxury, are placed at the centre of attention and recognition. The platform creates parity between master craftsmen and internationally established designers.
Mr. Vivek Pawar, Founder and Director, adds that KĀRYA is designed as long-term cultural infrastructure. By combining museums, government access, global fashion networks, and artisan knowledge, the platform moves beyond an event format to support Indian craft on the world stage for decades to come.
Event Snapshot
Dates: April 4–5, 2026
Venue: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
City: Mumbai
Format:
Day 1: Public exhibition with VVIP preview
Day 2: Morning viewing followed by invitation-only Fashion Gala
Access:
VVIP preview by invitation
Public exhibition ticketed
Fashion Gala by invitation only
