The name, 'Praan:t' is the amalgamation of two Hindi words, 'pran' and 'praant' which translate to soul and province, respectively. The celebration, promotion and preservation of the remarkable craftsmanship of regional artisans lies at the core of Praan:t; it is the soul of Praan:t's designs; the unique magic at the heart of the venture.
Join us on a timeless journey into India's rich heritage of textile crafts.
For over 5 years, Monika Chordia has been on a glorious journey. An avid traveler, with a deep appreciation of art in its many forms, she explores, develops and promotes India's rich heritage of textile traditions - be they weaving, embroidery or printing techniques.
An interior designer by training, Monika turned to fashion designing in 2008. On graduating, she launched her own label, 'Monika' and started showcasing her collections at a multi designer store in Koregaon Park.
In 2012, Papillio was born. At this studio, working on a much wider canvas, Monika not only presented an exciting range of designer sarees, jackets, casual and festive wear, but also provided a platform for upcoming designers to showcase their work.
Today, Monika's journey is taking a new turn to another avatar - Praan:t. This new brand celebrates, preserves and promotes the remarkable aesthetics and craftsmanship of regional artisans across India. Through Praan:t, Monika seeks to provide sustainable employment to the various craft communities of India, preserving India's rich heritage in the process. Work has already begun to bring some of India's handlooms to life, starting with exclusively-woven Chanderi fabric from Madhya Pradesh, exquisite hand block-printed textiles from Gujarat, and vibrant dyeing and embroidery techniques from Rajasthan.