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The Founder

Jitendra Kumar

Founder

Jitendra Kumar is the founder and director of Varanasi Loom to Luxury, a social enterprise focused on the preservation of India’s ancient craft of handloom weaving by supporting the economic empowerment of weavers and helping to build stronger communities. At the same time, Loom to Luxury is bridging the gap between its skilled weavers and the world’s luxury designers who have long faced challenges accessing the local market for hand woven silks jacquards.

Born and raised in rural Bihar, Kumar, who had long been influenced by the fashion and flair of Bollywood, decided to peruse his degree from the Inter National Institute of Fashion Design in Chandigarh, where he studied textile design. His childhood trips to Varanasi - the epicenter of hand loom silk weaving in India - also gave him a profound interest and appreciation for traditional crafts and the artisans who create it.

Sara | Advisor

Sara has been a foundational pillar and guiding force for Loom to Luxury since its inception alongside founder Jitendra Kumar. A strong believer in Indian culture and the spiritual concept of *moksha* in Varanasi, she found not only a profound sense of belonging in the sacred city but also the love of her life, her now husband.

Graduating from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a degree in Arts Management and Marketing, Sara is an expert in bridging art and business with over 20 years of experience. She intimately understands the specific needs and challenges faced by artisans, which allows her to develop sustainable solutions for craft-based industries.

Professionally, she spearheaded Loom to Luxury's early marketing, cultivated lasting buyer relationships through exceptional transparency, and was instrumental in establishing the fair-wage ethos that empowers every artisan and defines the brand's soul.

A dedicated photographer and traveller, she continues to follow her heart, which belongs to creating social impact, preserving craft, and driving change that brings smiles to the faces of artisans.

Journey

The foundation of Loom to Luxury was built upon the goal of overcoming the three biggest challenges faced by weavers to sustain their livelihood –adhering to tight lead times, high standards of quality and efficient management of decentralized artisan clusters. One of Kumar’s cornerstone ideas to solving these issues for the weavers was the creation of a centralized weaving facility where weavers could work together, share ideas and bolster a renewed pride for the incredible work do.

During his first summer break from university and with only Rs 5,000 in his pocket, Kumar traveled to Varanasi with a mission to learn how to weave and to understand every aspect of the weaving culture in the area. After continuously being turned away by weavers who were fearful that he was trying to steal designs, he finally crossed paths with a young weaver at his morning chai stand who agreed to take him into his home. Under the guise of being a journalism student, Kumar was able to spend 2 weeks with the family intimately understanding their skill and embracing the myriad challenges they faced in the rapidly changing industry.

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