Online education platform Wardrobe Crisis Academy is offering up a new course – Co-Create with Artisans – taught by designer, creative educator and new systems thinker Karishma Singh-Kelsey.
It’s a call out to anyone who wants to dive into the ideas behind co-creation in the handcraft sector – whether as a designer, artist, academic or entrepreneur.
The course explores unlearning top-down western ways of thinking.
“Working with artisans and micro-enterprises often requires a paradigm shift away from entrenched (and usually unexamined!) ‘I am better than you’ ways of thinking,” says Karishma. “It recognises that when different worldviews come together on an equal footing, we can create even more interesting outcomes.”
The course examines the question: How can those who benefit from their work be part of crafting a new story?
The global handcraft market was valued at USD 1,107.67 billion in 2024 (Fortune Business Insights) with the largest share in the APAC region.
In India, the industry supports an estimated 200 million people, with at least 7 million directly employed as artisans. Yet, particularly in rural areas, many highly skilled craftspeople live with inconsistent incomes, no social safety nets and ongoing threats to their cultural heritage.
Many highly skilled craftspeople live with inconsistent incomes, no social safety nets and ongoing threats to their cultural heritage.
The course examines the question: How can those who benefit from their work be part of crafting a new story?
“It’s all about shifting systems and power dynamics, away from exploitation towards true community and mutual benefit,” says Karishma. “We explore the why but also the how. I haven’t seen another course out there taking this approach and can’t wait to see what people make of it.”
With guest contributions from Fashion Revolution founder and author Carry Somers, environmentalist and author Ashish Kothari and Indian handloom collective Khamir, the course spans four weeks which cover the themes Connection, Community, Reciprocity and Co-creation.
Lessons are online and self-paced. Students will access detailed worksheets, checklists and process maps to help them navigate the practical work of forming fruitful, lasting relationships with artisan producers from cultures other than their own, while immersing themselves in a spiritual and philosophical mindset shift.
Designer, creative educator and new systems thinker Karishma Singh-Kelsey is teaching the course.
The programme has been designed for anyone who wants to dive into the ideas behind co-creation in the handcraft sector – whether as a designer, artist, academic or entrepreneur.
“Maybe you work for an NGO, charity or social enterprise. Or maybe you’re an artisan yourself.”
To date more than 1000 students have been through the Wardrobe Crisis Academy programmes.
Find out more about the course here.
