TEXTILE INDIA RESIDENCY
ANCIENT ROUTES.
LIVING TRADITIONS.
CONTEMPORARY DESIGN.
Welcome to the KIAR Textile India Residency — an immersive residency for textile designers, fashion designers, textile artists, fibre artists, researchers and creative practitioners who want to discover the extraordinary textile culture of Odisha.
Set in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, KIAR places you in one of India's most culturally distinctive regions — a land where ancient maritime connections, indigenous communities, handloom traditions, craftsmanship and contemporary creativity meet.
FROM ANCIENT KALINGA TO CONTEMPORARY TEXTILES
Long before today's global fashion industry, Kalinga [ ancient Odisha ] was an important maritime and cultural centre on the eastern coast of India.
It's ports connected Kalinga with trading and cultural networks across the Bay of Bengal, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and China, forming part of the wider network of ancient land and maritime exchange routes often understood today through the broader Silk Road world.
Through these networks travelled not only goods, but also:
TEXTILES • SILK • COTTON • MATERIALS • CRAFT • DESIGN • MOTIFS • TECHNOLOGY • RELIGION • IDEAS • CULTURE
Chinese Buddhist traveller Xuanzang [ Hiuen Tsang ] visited Odisha in the 7th century and recorded important Buddhist centres and a significant seaport on the Odisha coast.
This long history of movement and exchange provides an important cultural context for understanding Odisha's textile traditions today.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES.
What once connected Kalinga with distant cultures can now inspire a new generation of international designers.
ODISHA : A LIVING TEXTILE LABORATORY
Odisha is not simply a place where traditional textiles are preserved.
IT IS A PLACE WHERE TEXTILE KNOWLEDGE IS STILL ALIVE.
Generations of weavers, artisans and indigenous communities continue to work with:
WEAVING • NATURAL DYES • SILK • COTTON • IKAT • FIBRES • MOTIFS • EMBROIDERY • APPLIQUÉ • COLOUR • PATTERN • CLOTHING • MATERIAL CULTURE • PATTA CHITRA
The state recognises 64 handicraft categories, reflecting the extraordinary diversity of Odisha's traditional craft knowledge.
For a contemporary textile or fashion designer, this creates a rare opportunity:
TO STUDY TEXTILE AS A LIVING CULTURE — NOT JUST AS AN ARCHIVE.
DISCOVER ODISHA'S TEXTILE TRADITIONS
Your residency can take you beyond the familiar and into a much wider textile landscape.
IKAT / BANDHA
Explore Odisha's celebrated tie-and-dye weaving tradition and its sophisticated geometric vocabulary.
SAMBALPURI
Discover the vibrant colours, motifs and cultural identity of Sambalpuri textiles.
KHANDUA
Study Odisha's rich silk weaving heritage and distinctive traditional motifs.
BOMKAI
Explore the intricate motifs, colours and weaving traditions associated with Bomkai.
TUSSAR
Research Odisha's relationship with Tussar silk, indigenous materials and traditional weaving communities.
KOTPAD
Explore the remarkable textile tradition of Kotpad, particularly its natural-dye practices and deep earthy colour palette associated with indigenous communities of the region.
SANTALI TEXTILE & CLOTHING TRADITIONS
Study clothing, colours, patterns, ornamentation and material culture associated with Santali communities.
PARAJA TEXTILE & CLOTHING TRADITIONS
Explore the visual language, clothing and material traditions of Paraja communities of Odisha.
INDIGENOUS TEXTILE CULTURES
Go beyond commercial textiles and investigate the diverse clothing, craft, ornamentation, materials and visual traditions of Odisha's indigenous communities.
WHAT MAKES KIAR DIFFERENT?
THIS IS MORE THAN A STUDIO RESIDENCY.
KIAR gives you an opportunity to experience Odisha through:
- CULTURAL IMMERSION
- Explore Bhubaneswar and the surrounding cultural landscape.
- TEXTILE & CRAFT RESEARCH
- Visit relevant textile, craft and cultural locations according to your project.
- ARTISAN INTERACTION
- Explore opportunities to meet local artisans and weavers.
- MUSEUM & HERITAGE VISITS
- Discover Odisha's art, craft, tribal and cultural collections.
- STUDIO PRACTICE
Use KIAR's creative environment to develop your work.
CREATIVE EXCHANGE : Interact with Indian and international artists and creative practitioners.
DOCUMENTATION : Build a visual and research record of your Odisha experience.
PRESENTATION : Residents staying longer may have opportunities for an open studio, presentation or exhibition, subject to programme planning and availability.
KIAR's existing programme includes studio access, cultural guidance, museum visits, local logistical support and exhibition opportunities for eligible longer-stay residents.
You may develop the Followings :
Textile collections
Fashion collections
Surface patterns
Textile artworks
Natural-dye experiments
Sustainable fashion concepts
Fibre-based artworks
Contemporary interpretations of traditional motifs
Textile installations
Research projects
Photography and documentation
Collaborative projects
Fashion and cultural studies
YOU DON'T HAVE TO RECREATE TRADITION.
YOU CAN REINTERPRET IT.
CONNECT WITH ODISHA'S DESIGN COMMUNITY
KIAR encourages residents to explore meaningful connections with Odisha's wider creative ecosystem.
Depending on availability, programme requirements and prior coordination, residents may explore opportunities for interaction, workshops, presentations or collaborative research with:
FASHION & DESIGN EDUCATION
Potential interaction with institutions such as NIIFT, Odisha, subject to institutional availability and approval.
ODISHA'S FASHION DESIGNERS
Explore the work and perspectives of contemporary fashion designers working with Odisha's cultural and textile heritage.
SABYASACHI SATPATHY
Residents interested in Odisha-inspired contemporary fashion may explore potential professional or knowledge-exchange interaction with designers such as Sabyasachi Satpathy, subject to availability and prior arrangement.
WEAVERS & ARTISANS
Explore direct interaction with local weavers, textile artisans and traditional knowledge holders.
Important: Institutional, designer and artisan interactions are opportunities to be explored and are not automatically guaranteed or included in the residency fee. KIAR can provide guidance and facilitate introductions where possible, subject to availability and prior coordination.
RESIDENCY DURATION & FEES
CHOOSE THE TIME YOU NEED TO CREATE [ EVERY Extra day costs 45 $USD per person ]
15 DAYS : USD $850 / person
Ideal for:
Initial research
Cultural immersion
Textile exploration
Short creative projects
Designers wanting an introduction to Odisha
30 DAYS :USD $1,500 / person [ MOST RECOMMENDED ] [ EVERY Extra day costs 45 $USD per person ]
Ideal for:
In-depth textile research
Artisan interaction
Material experimentation
Fashion research
Developing a new collection or project
Building meaningful local connections
UP TO 3 MONTHS : USD $4,000 / person
FOR DEEP RESEARCH & COLLABORATION [ EVERY Extra day costs 40 $USD person ]
Ideal for:
Extensive textile research
Long-term material experimentation
Fashion collection development
Artisan collaboration
Research-based projects
Documentation
Contemporary textile projects
TRANSPORT & TRANSLATION
Transportation for outstation textile/craft visits and translation assistance with local weavers or artisans are additional and are not included in the residency fee.
Costs depend on the location, duration, group size and project requirements and will be discussed on video conference before the visit.
- Airport pickup
- Accommodation at KIAR
- Studio/work space
- Wi-Fi
- Open kitchen access [ BREAKFAST + LUNCH ]
- Basic local support
- Cultural guidance
- Selected cultural/museum experiences
- Support in planning local research
- Interaction with the KIAR creative community
- Residency certificate
KIAR's general residency programme currently lists accommodation, studio access, airport pickup, Wi-Fi, cultural guidance and selected cultural experiences among its facilities. Specific inclusions should be confirmed for the Textile India programme before booking.
NOT INCLUDED
The following are generally the resident's responsibility:
- International airfare & travel and medical insurance
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Art/textile materials
- Outstation travel
- Project-specific transportation
- Translation costs with local artisans/weavers
- Special workshops or production costs
- Personal shopping
- Meals outside the included programme
- Documentation/social media visibility where appropriate
A detailed cost estimate can be prepared for specific textile research or collaboration projects.
WHO CAN APPLY?
TEXTILE DESIGNERS
FASHION DESIGNERS
TEXTILE ARTISTS
FIBRE ARTISTS
SURFACE DESIGNERS
WEAVING ARTISTS
COSTUME DESIGNERS
SUSTAINABLE FASHION DESIGNERS
MATERIAL RESEARCHERS
CRAFT RESEARCHERS
FASHION STUDENTS
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS WORKING WITH TEXTILES
DESIGNERS & CREATIVE PRACTITIONERS
Both emerging and established practitioners are encouraged to apply.
DO I NEED A COMPLETELY DEVELOPED PROJECT? Ans : NO
You can arrive with:
- A QUESTION.
- AN IDEA.
- A MATERIAL.
- A RESEARCH INTEREST.
- A COLLECTION CONCEPT.
- OR SIMPLY CURIOSITY.
- A fully developed project is not essential.
- What matters is your willingness to observe, research, engage and create.
APPLICATION PROCESS
STEP 1 — SEND YOUR APPLICATION
Apply through the KIAR website Online Application Form or contact the residency directly.
Email: info@kalanirvana.com
Website: kalanirvana.com/kiar-india
KIAR's existing application process asks applicants for an artist statement/intent, portfolio or website/social media, preferred dates and duration, and a project proposal or creative goals where applicable.
STEP 2 — SUBMIT
Please prepare:
1. SHORT BIO
Tell us who you are and what you do.
2. PORTFOLIO
Website, PDF portfolio, Instagram or other professional work samples.
3. STATEMENT OF INTEREST
Why do you want to come to KIAR TEXTILE Residency, India ?
4. TEXTILE / FASHION RESEARCH INTEREST
Tell us what you would like to explore.
5. PREFERRED DATES
Tell us your proposed arrival and departure dates.
6. PROJECT IDEA
Optional, but strongly encouraged if you already have an idea.
7. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Tell us about any specific studio, textile, material, travel, artisan or collaboration requirements.
SELECTION
- Applications are reviewed individually based on:
- Creative practice
- Originality
- Relevance to the residency
- Research interest
- Cultural engagement
- Feasibility of the proposed project
- Availability of the programme
Shortlisted applicants may be invited for a video conversation before confirmation. This follows KIAR's current application and selection approach.
WHEN CAN I APPLY? TEXTILE INDIA RESIDENCY
International applicants : September 20th – April 10th
We recommend applying at least 30–40 days before your preferred starting date, particularly if you require a visa, special project arrangements, artisan coordination or outstation research.
Early application is recommended for applicants seeking specific dates or collaboration arrangements.
CAN KIAR SUPPORT MY PROJECT?
YES — WITHIN THE RESIDENCY'S CAPACITY.
KIAR can provide guidance with:
- Official Invitation Letter and required documents for your funding application at your country or any other funding organization.
- Local research
- Cultural contacts
- Artisan connections
- Travel planning
- Project logistics
- Local information
- Studio requirements
- Cultural orientation
Project-specific costs are discussed separately.
Selected artists may also be considered for partial support or discounted residency fees depending on availability and programme circumstances. KIAR's general residency programme states that selected artists may receive partial sponsorship/discounts in certain circumstances.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE & FASHION DESIGNERS
Apply through KIAR:
www.kalanirvana.com/kiar-india
Email: info@kalanirvana.com
WhatsApp: +91 7077968949