Founder, Kanak

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER

“ I wanted to challenge the way craft and ethical fashion are often presented. Craft doesn’t have to feel traditional. Responsible fashion doesn’t have to be boring. And you shouldn’t buy something because you feel sorry for the person who made it.” 

Hi, I’m Kanak, founder and creative director of Julahas.

I’m Indian and based in Amsterdam, and Julahas has always lived somewhere between those two worlds — the colour, craft and textile traditions I grew up with in India, and the layering and versatility I came to appreciate living in Europe.

Before Julahas, I was a journalist. That curiosity about people and their stories still shapes how I work today.

Growing up in India, custom-made clothing was part of everyday life. You chose fabric, took it to your local masterji, discussed what you wanted and knew who had made your clothes. I also grew up visiting craft fairs, fascinated by the skill of Indian artisans, while watching my mother run her own business from home taught me the value of women’s economic independence.

After moving to the Netherlands, I began working with artisan communities in India. That journey introduced me to the handloom weavers of the Indian Himalayas and changed the way I thought about design. Some of the weavers I first worked with more than a decade ago still make Julahas textiles today.

When my first brand closed in 2019, I wasn’t ready to leave those relationships behind. So I started Julahas.

The word 'julaha' refers to a community of weavers, because the people making our textiles should never disappear behind the label.

I also wanted to challenge how craft and responsible fashion are often presented. Craft doesn’t have to feel traditional. Responsible fashion doesn’t have to be boring.

I want you to buy a Julahas because you absolutely love it.

Because the colour makes you happy. Because it feels wonderful. Because you can wear it in different ways — and because years later, you still reach for it.

Today, I design alongside artisan communities, our team and our customers, creating colourful, versatile and size-inclusive pieces that bring traditional skills into contemporary wardrobes.

For me, Julahas is a bridge — between India and the world, craft and design, and the hands that make a textile and the person who eventually wears it.

Welcome to Julahas.

Warmly,

Kanak