Our journey began in November 2017, when I conducted some research on marble handicrafts industry in Karachi for a personal project. It was during this time that I started re-evaluating the potential of inlay crafts practiced by local artisans and in the process realized that craft of inlay had almost faded away with time. Art of ‘Sedefkari’ also known as mother of pearl inlay, which once graced our handicraft industry was restricted to a few mundane pieces which completely lacked innovation. Dearth of design intervention had brought this industry on the verge of extinction. As a result of which, community of ‘Sedefkari’ artisans had suffered and this craft became almost non-existent.

As a firm believer in the power of craft and significant role it plays in connecting communities, I embarked on a journey with intention to learn and revive hand crafted techniques of inlay. This process of self-learning and research led to exploration of various forms of inlay crafts; stone inlay and marquetry being two of them. Visits to several workshops of master artisans in various part of the world has had a profound impact on my understanding of craft as a language and its ability to transcends cultural boundaries and time. I believe that craft connects cultures and human hand holds power to narrate stories which touch the soul.