Jaisalmer Crafted Bar Collectible and Samant Chauhan Bring Indian Craft

At Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI, a collaboration between Indian craft gin and Bhagalpur silk explores the meeting point of fashion, craftsmanship, and contemporary luxury.

What happens when the story of a handwoven textile meets that of a spirit shaped by Indian botanicals? At Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), Jaisalmer Crafted Bar Collectible and designer Samant Chauhan brought these distinct worlds together through a collaboration rooted in material, process, and design.

The association introduced a Crafted Bar experience and a series of special collectibles, taking the conversation beyond clothing and into the wider lifestyle space. At its center were two different expressions of Indian craftsmanship: Bhagalpur’s silk-weaving tradition and a gin-making process that draws on ingredients sourced from across the country.

Bhagalpur Silk Meets a New Design Context

Since establishing his label in 2006, Samant Chauhan has worked extensively with Bhagalpur silk, exploring ways to bring the region’s handloom tradition into contemporary fashion. His approach places the textile within modern silhouettes while retaining a connection to the weaving skills and regional knowledge behind it.

The partnership with Jaisalmer offers a different setting for that story. Instead of limiting the conversation to apparel, it brings textile craftsmanship into a lifestyle collaboration that includes collectibles and a curated bar experience.

This shift in context is what makes the association worth examining. A traditional textile can be appreciated for its place in fashion, but it also carries a wider story about material, production, and the people whose expertise keeps a craft alive.

The Story Behind Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin approaches its Indian identity through botanicals and distillation. The spirit uses 11 botanicals, seven sourced from India, including Darjeeling green tea, lemongrass, and cubeb pepper. It is made from triple-distilled neutral grain spirit and redistilled in traditional copper pot stills.

Available in around 40 countries, the brand brings Indian ingredients into a premium spirits category with an international reach.

Its connection with the fashion label is not about making textiles and gin seem alike. Instead, the collaboration draws a line between two distinct production processes, each shaped by its choice of materials and the techniques used to transform them. One begins with silk and the knowledge of weavers; the other with botanicals and the craft of distillation.

Inside the Crafted Bar Experience

The Jaisalmer Crafted Bar gave the collaboration a tangible presence at the event, offering guests a curated cocktail experience. Special collectibles developed for the association extended its design language beyond the bar itself.

Together, these elements brought the partnership into a setting where fashion, hospitality, and product design could meet. The experience also provided a way to introduce the brand’s botanical story to an audience gathered primarily around fashion and design.

Rather than serving as a backdrop to the collaboration, the bar became one of its central components, giving the partnership a point of engagement beyond the runway.

Why Craft Matters in Contemporary Luxury

Luxury is often discussed in terms of finish, presentation, and exclusivity. Yet the work behind a product can be just as revealing. The origins of a textile, the knowledge required to produce it, and the selection of ingredients in a spirit all contribute to the identity of the finished product.

This is where the collaboration finds its common ground. Bhagalpur silk represents a regional weaving tradition adapted for contemporary fashion, while Jaisalmer’s botanical blend reflects an approach to spirits that draws on India’s natural resources.

Kunal Madan, Chief Marketing Officer of Radico Khaitan, said the partnership reflects the brand’s interest in creating contemporary luxury experiences inspired by Indian craftsmanship. Samant Chauhan emphasized the importance of taking Bhagalpur silk forward while preserving its connection to the weaving communities that sustain the tradition.

Their perspectives place the focus on a straightforward idea: traditional knowledge can remain relevant when it is given room to evolve, rather than being treated solely as a reference to the past.

A Different Perspective on Indian Craft

The collaboration between Jaisalmer Crafted Bar Collectible and Samant Chauhan brings together fashion and spirits without losing sight of the differences between them. Its appeal lies in the opportunity to encounter two forms of Indian craftsmanship within one contemporary setting.

For Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI, the association adds a lifestyle dimension to the fashion program. For the brands involved, it creates a platform to share stories about materials, production, and design with audiences beyond their usual categories.

The result is a considered meeting of Bhagalpur silk and Indian botanicals, with the Crafted Bar and special collectibles providing the link between them.