New Delhi/Dhaka: Jaipur Rugs, India’s most ethical producer of handmade carpets, and Bangladesh’s number one furniture brand ISHO have come together this Ramadan to bring out an exclusive handmade carpet celebrating the shared Mughal heritage of the two countries. In a world first for the design community, ISHO along with Jaipur Rugs has developed an artistic representation of Bangladesh and India’s shared Mughal culture and architecture, depicting this in a unique design that will be woven by Jaipur Rugs’ expert artisans in rural Rajasthan.
The rug, launched during Ramadan, serves as perennial piece designed to suit the dimensions of a modern home and executed using timeless craftsmanship of Jaipur Rugs. The rug is displayed at ISHO’s curated exhibition space in Dhaka, where one can walk in and experience moments of Mughal history unfold before their eyes. The exhibition highlights prominent Mughal rulers and their contributions including famous examples of Mughal architecture in Bangladesh. One of these historic landmarks is the Lalbagh Fort, the inspiration behind the design of this exclusive new rug.
As one of the region’s most innovative new furniture brands, ISHO always strives to collaborate with fellow market leaders, brands and makers that are skilled at their craft and demonstrate creative originality. Working with Jaipur Rugs presented an opportunity to bind both cultures, religions, crafts and teams together in celebration of so many similarities, a shared history and a love of beautiful design.
Speaking about the collaboration, Yogesh Chaudhary, Director, Jaipur Rugs, said, “India and Bangladesh share cultural history that goes way back in time. Through our collaboration with ISHO we got an opportunity to express our shared heritage through design and propagate our rich crafts and traditions to a newer audience. At Jaipur Rugs we like to give our artisans global platforms to take their craft and their stories to the world. It is always a delight to find new partners like ISHO and be able to tell the stories of the unique and simple lives of our artisan and their ancestral know-how through them.”
Rayana Hossain, Founder and MD of ISHO, further added, “This collaboration between ISHO and Jaipur Rugs is symbolic of our shared values and cultural unity. We believe in partnering with like-minded entities that are entrepreneurial, sustainable and innovative and it’s this strategy that is propelling ISHO’s growth in Bangladesh and across borders to India and the Far East. Through this collaboration we are proud to demonstrate the commercial, cultural and creative benefits of empowering local artisanship and helping traditional craft to thrive and find resonance in homes around the world.”
About Jaipur Rugs: Jaipur Rugs is a family business strengthened by the purpose of protecting ancestral know-how and connecting rural craftsmanship with global consumers. By placing the human aspect at its core, the company has grown to become the largest network of artisans in India. It uses the age-old art form of handmade carpets as a tool to bring prosperity into the homes of 40,000 rural artisans of which 80 per cent are women. Founded in 1978 by Nand Kishore Chaudhary with just two looms, it now has over 7,000 looms and sells in over 75 countries.
About ISHO: ISHO is the number one online furniture brand in Bangladesh. As a future-focused business, it aims to democratise furniture retail to appeal to the mass market, without compromising its values. Key to the brand’s USP is its commitment to placemaking. All objects are thoughtfully designed and produced to suit the lifestyles and budgets of local people. These humanistic values have driven their research and innovation, ensuring that design solutions, distribution and technology make the service friendlier and more accessible. With headquarters in Dhaka, the brand is planning to open its service to residents of India and Singapore in the near future.
