A letter from our captain, Jai Singh.

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Fellow Dreamers,

As I pen this letter from the transient sanctuary of an airplane, soaring from Bangkok's vibrant chaos to Shanghai's sprawling expanse, I find myself in a reflective state. The humming engine and the whispered conversations of fellow passengers serve as a backdrop to my thoughts. This aircraft, a veritable ark of ambition, carries within it a microcosm of the textile industry – from eager newcomers to the seasoned polyester mafias, all united in their pilgrimage to Intertextile 2024.

My last sojourn to Shanghai, some seven years ago, was a tapestry of hopes and aspirations, a young dreamer in search of his place in the vast world of textiles. That visit, though it didn't unfold as I had envisioned, was the catalyst for a journey that took me far beyond the confines of predictable trade fairs. It was a lesson in the beauty of the mundane, a vanilla event that pushed me to seek the flavors of the world.

The irony of it all is that in my quest for innovation, I found myself drawn to China, a land renowned not for the novelty of its creations but for the precision of its replications. Yet, it was precisely here, amidst the sea of copycats, that I embarked on a quest to redefine the essence of imitation, to make it not just difficult but impossible.

Embarking on a global odyssey, I delved into the heart of cultures, not as a mere observer but as a participant, learning the nuances of branding from the sticker on the fabric to the soul behind the weave. After traversing 42 countries, I stood at a crossroads, almost succumbing to the very ethos I sought to transcend. It was a moment of reckoning, a realization that in the quest for uniqueness, one must tread carefully to avoid becoming a reflection of the very industry one aims to redefine.

The turning point came not from a committee of minds, but from a singular partnership with my creative director – a lifelong friend who has recently embarked on a path of spiritual discovery. Together, during a transformative trip to Taipei, we delved into the philosophy of life and business, finding clarity in the confluence of our creative and spiritual journeys. It was this fusion of perspectives that illuminated our path forward, enabling us to connect back to our roots with a renewed vision for our craft.

Inspired by the words of Ustad Vilayat Khan, "Too much tradition makes for dead wood. But I don't want so much progress as to lose my identity," I found my north star.

As I return to Shanghai, it's not just as a visitor but as a testament to the power of authenticity in a world of echoes. The Intertextile fair, a confluence of past and future, stands as a reminder of the journey we're all on – from imitation to innovation, from following paths to forging them.

In the days to come, I look forward to sharing the fruits of this journey, the unveiling of our newest cloth series that embodies the essence of our collective odyssey. Until then, let us remember that the fabric of our dreams is woven not just from the threads we create but from the stories we live.

May your day be as vibrant as the markets of Bangkok and as boundless as the skies that lead me back to Shanghai.

With heartfelt reflections,

Jai Singh

Intertextile 2017 - A series of photos from the last adventure.