Ajay Jain
Ajay Jain is a leading voice in India's art, culture & heritage and a Senior Fellow at the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. His unique process of documenting heritage buildings via remote sensing, climate & hydrogeological studies together with other evolving methods pioneered the water system revival of Jaigarh Fort, Amer.
Mr. Jain is the polymathic founder and CEO of Sukhnidhey Films. He makes critically acclaimed documentaries that are screened worldwide and in the collections of the Archaeological Survey of India and the American Institute of Indian Studies, New York-to list a few.
Dan May
Dan May is a global leader of style-setting fashion publications and international retail brands. Achievements include:
- Founding Style Director, Mr. Porter
- Fashion Editor, 10 Magazine
- Fashion Director, 10 Men
- Contributing Editor Men’s Fashion, Telegraph Men’s Luxury and ST Men
- Contributor to Sunday Times Style, Chinese and Russian Vogue
Mr. May is a fashion polymath who studied photography and styling at London College of Fashion while working both in front of and behind the camera. As co-founder of the resort clothing label SMR Days, he leads the brand’s fashion direction and styling. SMR Days is sourced and manufactured in India with a particular emphasis on supporting Indian craft. The brand is sold at the world’s top stockists, including Harrods, Nordstrom, Bon Marche, Browns, Matches Fashion and Mr Porter.ays.
Gautam Rajani
Gautam Rajani is a Co-founder of SMR Days and leads the company’s sourcing, operations and business development. His experience at fashion’s top brands blends with hometown knowledge of Indian crafts to support SMR’s unique lane in casual, handmade fashion.
Nilesh Yadav
Nilesh Yadav is an Urban Planner who created the Local Area Plan for Ward 74, Walled City of Jaipur and pioneered the first GIS-based research for Thengaithittu Mangroves, PondyCAN! & Government of Puducherry.
On a quest in Auroville, he coordinated promotional campaigns for Eco Femme, a social benefit cloth pad company. Today, he is the ESG Manager at www.Greige.co who co-writes the company's structural research. As co-founder of the Jaipur Crafts Festival, he is the voice of heritage connections to circularity.
Shaan Agarwal
Shaan Agarwal is the Business Director at Jaipur Modern. Shaan has always had a keen interest in the Indian craft and he believes his dream has come through with Jaipur Modern. He manages the entire business front for Jaipur Modern and looks at different ways to collaborate with the Modern Indian craftsman. He is passionate about creativity and strives to apply that to all aspects of his work.
Along with Jaipur Modern, Mr. Agarwal is also responsible for the planning and strategy for Studio Ardy – a fashion brand. Shaan has also been inclined towards the organic and sustainable lifestyle. He is also always up for discussions on music, movies, literature and philosophy.
Reshmi Dey
Reshmi Dey promotes skills development projects with various international organizations including the UN's International Labor Organization (ILO). Her life as a hands-on designer and maker of fine glass objects is a series of firsts:
• India's first glass entrepreneur and educator
• Founder of India’s first state-of-the-art Art Glass Studio
• Founder and CEO of Glass Sutra
• 2016 Senior Fellowship, Ministry of Culture, Government of India
• Educator Workshop, Bullseye Glass, Portland, Oregon, USA
• Scholarship to The International Glass Centre, Dudley, U.K.
• Center for the Development of the Glass Industries (CDGI)
• Continuing education in Murano and Venice, Italy
Her most recent project, Glass Sutra in Firozabad, seeks to create the best of craft and design for discerning customers worldwide.
Rituraj Devaang Jain
Rituraj Devaang Jain, Co-Founder of Sukhnidhey Films has produced 117+ documentaries on Indian art, heritage and travel that are honored internationally. Mr. Jain has been a visiting faculty at the Indian Institute of Crafts & Design, Jaipur, Centre for Cultural Resources & Training, New Delhi and the American Institute of Indian Studies, New York. In 2018, He’s represented India at UNESCO World Heritage Convention, Bahrain.
Sayali Goyal
Sayali is the Founding Editor and Creative Director of Cocoa and Jasmine, an independent print cultural magazine distributed worldwide with a mission to create a platform for authentic voices in arts, design, craft and travel. With her decade-long experience in textiles, publishing and curation, she continues to consult on multidisciplinary cultural projects. Currently, she is a mentor to students at the University of Arts, London curating the third edition of SAFED, a handspun and handwoven textile installation. She’s also the founding Director of AHAATA, a Punjab design project.
Scott Frankum
Scott Frankum founded the Jaipur Crafts Festival as a platform for the business and culture of crafts. Mr. Frankum is a technology developer, creative director, digital strategist and SEO with wanderlust and an MBA. He is a trusted advisory and technology partner to MSMEs around the world. His passion project is www.Greige.co
Vishesh Sharma
Vishesh Sharma is Marketing Lead at Antaran-the Tata Trusts for the Crafts’ Initiative. Mr. Sharma has special expertise in rural livelihoods and bridging the gap between artisans and buyers. His work as a professional communicator powers maker differentiation and value by helping them tell their own stories to wider audiences. Prior to his role at the Tata Trusts, he was marketing manager at Good Earth, India. He holds a Masters in PR & Communications from the University of Leeds.
Yash Pratap Singh Shekhawat
Yash Pratap Singh Shekhawat heads Techarch Studios, an architecture and design studio specializing in sustainable heritage and interior conservation. The firm works all over India.
He is visiting faculty at the School of Architecture and Design, Sushant University, Gurugram. He researches and writes on Jaipur, Bikaner and other Rajasthani cities. His most recent book ‘THAR- Jaisalmer, Bikaner & Jodhpur’ publishes soon.
