Stitching Adventures in India
Exploring fashion embroidery,
Maharaja’s splendors and ancient traditions.
with Nadia Albertini
February 25 to March 6, 2025
Discover the intricate world of Indian embroidery through Stitching Adventures, an exclusive 10-day itinerary crafted for those passionate about textile arts and embroidery in particular. This immersive experience is the brainchild of Nadia Albertini, a renowned luxury ready-to-wear designer with over 20 years of expertise in the fashion industry. Drawing from her deep connection to India where she has made countless journeys to explore its textile treasures, Nadia has curated this unique adventure to offer you an unparalleled insight into the rich tapestry of Indian embroidery.
From the bustling creativity of contemporary Mumbai to the opulence of the Mughal era in Jaipur, and finally to the timeless traditions of Kolkata and the villages of West Bengal, each region reveals a distinct facet of India’s embroidery heritage. You will witness first-hand the skills passed down through generations, learn the stories woven into every stitch, and engage with artisans who bring these age-old techniques to life. This journey dives deep into the artistry and cultural significance of embroidery, as seen through the eyes of a seasoned designer who has spent two decades living and breathing fashion. Let Nadia introduce you to the rich tapestry of colors, textures, and stories found in this country, and emerge with a profound appreciation for one of India’s most treasured art forms.
I T I N E R A R Y
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Morning: Arrive in Mumbai. Check in at the famous Taj Mahal Tower Hotel and rest a couple of hours after your journey before meeting the group and introducing ourselves.
Afternoon: Visit one of the most renowned embroidery ateliers in Mumbai, where stunning pieces are created daily for the most prestigious international fashion brands in Paris, Milan, London and New York.
Meet the owner and the karigars (craftspeople in hindi) and discuss their work and history.Evening: Stroll through the Colaba Causeway, known for its street shopping with a unique ambience and charm, where we will have a delicious welcome dinner at The Table and have a chance to get to know one another before commencing our embroidery adventures.
Included for the day:
Welcome dinner
Embroidery kit
Visit fees
Lodging in Mumbai
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Morning: Explore the Kala Ghoda area, known for its art galleries and boutiques showcasing contemporary Indian textiles and art. Delve in the architecture, the colors and decorations, as unique inspiration sources for textile design. We will lunch at a local café.
Afternoon: Spend the afternoon exploring the embroidery materials market visiting Nadia’s favorite shops. In this one-of-a-kind market you will find all the beautiful components used in the most amazing haute couture designs: from multi-coloured bullion, sequins in all shapes and sizes, seed beads, bugle beads, sew-on stones, crystals as well as many novelties unique to the market. A must-see for anyone loving embroidery and craft.
Evening: Return to the hotel and enjoy its amenities such as the beautiful outdoor pool, restaurants, have a cocktail, book a massage at the spa or simply rest in your room after a very busy day.
Included for the day:
Breakfast
Lunch
Lodging in Mumbai
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Morning: Work session in which you will have an embroidery design lesson by some of the most talented artists in town. Watch and learn how they transfer the images onto fabric and proceed to embellish the surface using different materials and techniques.
Afternoon: After lunch in the Lower Parel area, we will dedicate the afternoon exploring various neighborhoods in search of the trendiest shops in Mumbai. We will visit up-and-coming designer shops, studios and concept stores filled with interesting and inspirational artifacts to feast our eyes.
Evening: We go back to the hotel to rest for a couple of hours. Then, we will say farewell to Mumbai dining at a lively and famous Indian restaurant in the heart of the old town.
Included for the day:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Studio lesson fee
Lodging in Mumbai
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Morning: Check-out and drive to the airport to catch our flight to Jaipur.
Afternoon: Once in Jaipur, we will have lunch at the lovely Jaipur Modern Café, where the wooden walls are hand embroidered by some of the most talented craftsmen in the country. After lunch, we will visit the City Palace with a special tour of their textiles and costumes galleries to take in the richness and splendor of the Mughal emperors, the opulence of the court and the craftsmanship they developed in Rajasthan through the centuries. The museum collection includes finely embroidered garments worn by the royal family. We will then visit a fabulous local textile vendor where we will take a lesson on the hand-guided embroidery machines used to make their gorgeous embroideries.
Evening: We check-in at Mandawa Haveli, a privately owned heritage hotel run by the 10th generation of the royal family of Mandawa. Participants can explore the suggested dining offerings in the neighborhood.
Included for the day:
Breakfast
Transportation
Lunch
Entry fee
Lodging in Jaipur
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Morning: We are halfway through our journey. We take this Saturday morning off to allow for some down time which can be spent by the pool, in the garden or exploring the beautiful city of Jaipur and lunch at one of the suggested spots.
Afternoon: After lunch, we all meet back at the hotel to go to class at a block-printing and natural dyeing studio lead by a young local textile designer specialized in natural dyes and patterns.
Evening: Back to the hotel for dinner. The outdoor seating in the charming courtyard enhances the dining experience allowing us to enjoy traditional dishes amidst a picturesque setting.
Included for the day:
Breakfast
Studio lesson fee
Dinner
Lodging in Jaipur
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Morning: After an early breakfast, our local guide from Jaipur Houses takes us for a unique walk in the old city, finding special corners full of history, art and inspiration for our textile designs, taking us to fascinating craft stores and suppliers. We then go to the Anokhi Museum of Textiles to discover the incredible treasures of their unique collection.
Afternoon: After lunch at the Amber Fort Restaurant, we visit this magical palace built in 1592 and admire the magnificent courtyards, pavilions and intricate architectural details developed for the Maharajas who lived there for various centuries.
Evening: Back to the hotel. The group members will be free to explore the local cuisine on their own.
Included for the day:
Breakfast
Lunch
Walking tour fee
Entry fees
Lodging in Jaipur
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Morning: After breakfast, we head to the Jaipur airport and board a flight to Kolkata. The hotel will prepare a packed lunch for us to enjoy on the plane.
Afternoon: After landing, we go directly to the Taj Bengal Hotel and check-in. The afternoon is dedicated to visiting one of the best embroiderers and textile manufacturers in town, a family-owned business that supplies embellishments to the best fashion designers around the world, from Dries van Noten to Comme des Garçons and Craig Green. The owner will present their work and creative process while sharing their career history in textiles and design.
Evening: Dinner at the 6 Ballygunge Place Restaurant, known for their excellent Bengali cuisine.
Included for the day:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transportation
Studio visit fee
Lodging in Kolkata
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Morning: After an early breakfast, we head downtown with our local guide for a very special walk in and around the flower market. We will then spend a few hours at one of Kolkata’s most prestigious embroidery ateliers focusing on the production of luxury-interiors products such as wallpaper, wall-hangings, and cushions. We will have a lesson on hand painting and hand embroidery techniques on wallpaper. Lunch will be served at the atelier after which we will discuss embroidery inspirations and techniques with the atelier’s team.
Afternoon: We continue with our practice of embroidery on wallpaper.
Evening: A local expert and conservator will receive us in their gallery to discuss the unique characteristics of West Bengal textiles.
Back to the hotel. The group members will be free to explore the local cuisine on their own.Included for the day:
Breakfast
Lunch
Flower market tour fee
Studio lesson fee
Lodging in Kolkata
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Morning: After breakfast, we drive north to reach Fulia and Shantipur, located about 2 hours from Kolkata. These towns are famous for their textile crafts, especially the handloom sarees and Kantha embroidery. We will visit artisan workshops and cooperatives to see the crafting process and shop for unique pieces. Various villages of West Bengal, famous for their kantha work, a traditional form of quilted embroidery. Through a local women-led NGO entrepreneurship, we will meet with a community of embroiderers to practice and learn about Kantha embroidery.
Afternoon: After lunch in the village, we will carry on learning about the beauty behind Kantha stitches and motifs.
Evening: We drive back to Kolkata in the early evening and enjoy dinner at one of the most iconic restaurants on Park Street, to experience Kolkata’s blend of history and modernity.
Included for the day:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transportation
Studio fees
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Morning: After breakfast, we head to the Indian Museum to observe their fantastic decorative arts collection. The museum’s textile collection includes a wide variety of traditional Indian fabrics, showcasing the diversity of textile arts across different regions of the country and embroidery in particular.
Afternoon: We return to the hotel for our farewell lunch at Souk, a popular Lebanese and Middle Eastern restaurant at the Taj Bengal hotel and have a chance to exchange and discuss what the past 10 days in this gem of a country have signified for each of us.
After lunch, transportation to the Kolkata International Airport (CCU) will be arranged depending on the different flights and destinations.
Included for the day:
Breakfast
Lunch
Transportation Kolkata International Airport
JOIN NADIA IN INDIA NEXT WINTER
February 25 to March 6, 2025
10 days — 9 nights
Capped at 10 participants
English-spoken
€8,000 sign-up per participant in single-occupancy room in Mumbai, Jaipur and Kolkata.
Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit of €1,000
Mumbai: February 25-28, 2025. Each participant will enjoy the occupancy of a single room with ensuite bathroom in the renowned Taj Mahal Tower Hotel.
Jaipur: March 1-3, 2025. Each participant will enjoy the occupancy of a single room with ensuite bathroom in the historic Mandawa Haveli Hotel.
Kolkata: March 3-6, 2025. Each participant will enjoy the occupancy of a single room with ensuite bathroom in the beautiful Taj Bengal Hotel.
Questions about the accommodations? Please contact us directly before signing up.
Included in this experiential learning opportunity:
Lodging for 9 nights
All breakfasts, except on day 1
Most lunches, except on days 1 and 5
Most dinners (with either two glasses of house wine or beer to accompany these meals) except on days 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10
Airfare/transportation for local flights from Mumbai to Jaipur and Jaipur to Kolkata
Local ground transportation according to the itinerary utilizing private taxis equipped with AC
Admission fees to all paid-for activities (such as museums, galleries and ateliers)
Basic embroidery kit (pre-printed sampler, embroidery hoop, embroidery needles, thread snips and embroidery floss)
Not included:
Airfare/transportation to and from India for arrival and departure to the country
The Indian government requires all foreigners a visa to enter. Please leave enough time to apply and pay for your own visa before traveling.
Vaccinations or boosters suggested by your physician.
Travel, medical and cancellation insurance (for which you must provide proof of acquisition before attending the workshop)
Any art supplies other than those included in the basic embroidery kit
Breakfast on day 1
Lunch on days 1 and 5
Dinners on days 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10
Any additional expenses guests may incur on their own outside of what has already been stipulated, such as groceries, spa days/evenings, and certainly any supplies acquired during our visits to specialized supply stores.
The focus of our programme is around the topic of fashion embroidery and ancient textile traditions of India. It will be packed with many unique and fascinating visits, therefore, it is important to mention this experiential learning opportunity is designed to nurture your interest and curiosity in embroidery and fashion for both personal and professional advancement as it will be filled with bespoke workshops, lectures, research and practice.
Unfortunately, our schedule won’t allow for the more traditional sightseeing of Mumbai, Jaipur and Kolkata nor shopping unrelated to the learning outcomes. We invite you to plan these visits at your own leisure, either a few days before or after our programme.
Don’t hesitate to reach out before signing up if you have any questions.
More scheduling details will be provided closer to the start of the programme.
Please note that some activities in the programme may be subject to change.