The Making
From earth,
to earth.
Our making process is an act of care; an act of looking out for each other. It is continuously evolving as we engage with materials and techniques; discover artisanal knowledge; innovate with and learn from our collaborators on this journey.
Everything begins with the earth and materials nurtured in its soil. Each piece is an outcome of sustainable design practices, co-designed with weavers and hand-block printers who work with indigenous traditions linked to natural materials. Once the product is made, we pass on the baton of care to you, our customers (and we guide you in this process!).
Finally, when you choose to part with a Dhi piece at the end of its lifecycle, we take back the ownership of care. The materials are safely upcycled into new products or composted to return back to the soil they came from.
Earth First
Nature is our inspiration — not just for design, but for its ecological systems, its interconnectedness, its circle of life. Whatever comes from the earth can go back to it safely. We employ slow, low-impact production processes with no toxic chemicals and are as eco-friendly as possible.
Materials
We use natural, biodegradable fabrics only; no synthetic fabrics or blended fibres. Cotton, linen and silk primarily, with certain pieces using innovative plant-based fabrics. We work with a few varieties of native cotton which can be traced back to the farms and are certified organic. Our buttons are made using reclaimed wood and coconut shells. We use natural dyes and AZO-free dyes, and work with partners who are GOTS compliant.
Design Process
Our design process is anchored in environmental and cultural sustainability. Sustainable design practices include monomaterials, designing for disassembly, and creating easy-to-care-for, versatile pieces. Co-designing with artisan communities brings out the best of craft, technique and quality. We use handcrafted, low-energy processes for our textiles and tailoring, making each piece one-of-a-kind.
The Craft Tradition
Each Dhi piece is a celebration of Indian handcrafted textiles, reinterpreted in a contemporary design language. These cultural practices are inherently sustainable and honour local materiality. We call them living knowledge systems. The three prominent crafts at Dhi are hand-block printing, natural dyeing and handloom weaving. Every piece is made by hand, in small batches.
Independent Masters
People of Dhi
The enablers of everything we do. Master artisans bring our ideas to life with wisdom, technique and patience. Satish Anna from Tharangini Studio has the best design aptitude while Banu Aunty can create any hand-mixed colour to perfection! Tharangini Studio and Yaana are our local textile collaborators. This list is only growing, and we can't wait to share our community with you.
Tharangini Studio
Hand Block Printing
Yaana -
A Weaving House
Natural dyeing & Handloom Weaving
Care
Since all our pieces are carefully handcrafted with the highest quality materials, they do require special care. No polyester means no microplastics shed into the water, and no toxic chemicals means the grey water leaving your sink is clean. With every wear, the organic colours settle and grow more personal. Conscious making is best complemented with conscious consumption. Here is the link to our care guide.
Return to Dhi
A Dhi piece will easily last a lifetime. In case it wears out or you want to give it a new life - please bring it back to us! At the end of its lifecycle, we disassemble it, upcycle the material if fit for new projects or compost it to return back to the earth it came from. Until then, we encourage you to wear with care, rewear, swap, pass down and mend these pieces. Quick links to our mending services and end of life options.
