Our Story
In 2021, in the quiet aftermath of the global pandemic, interior designer Faraz Mohammad from Los Angeles embarked on a trip to India. It was there, amid winding lanes and centuries-old workshops, that he discovered a sobering truth — many artisan factories were closing their doors. Skilled craftspeople, whose families had practiced their art for generations, were being forced to leave their villages and work as laborers in cities. A priceless lineage of craftsmanship was vanishing before his eyes.
From that moment, a vision began to take shape. Faraz dreamed of creating not just a business, but a lifeline — a way to preserve these traditions while providing dignified, sustainable livelihoods. Though he had no contacts or prior business experience in India, the kindness of strangers turned that dream into reality. Piece by piece, a team of designers, weavers, dyers, embroiderers, and seamstresses came together.
Faraz’s design studio in Los Angeles became the creative hub where the home decor line was envisioned. The marriage of fresh ideas from Los Angeles with the time-honored techniques of artisans in Lucknow gave birth to a unique collaboration — one that transcended borders and cultures. This partnership of “kind strangers” on opposite sides of the world blossomed into the successful brand we know today as Kind Strangers.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple yet powerful:
- Preserve traditional artistry — weaving, natural dyeing, hand embroidery, and heritage design techniques.
- Create ethical luxury — products that honor the past while serving the global market with timeless beauty.
- Support our artisans — by providing safe workspaces, fair wages, and respect for their craft.
Every piece we create is more than just a product; it is a story. A story of resilience, collaboration, and hope. When you bring Kind Strangers into your home, you are not only adding beauty to your space — you are helping keep centuries-old traditions alive and empowering the artisans who make them.
Kind Strangers: Where heritage meets modernity.
The Making – A Story in Every Thread
Inspired by the Gandhian philosophy that “the soul of a nation lives in its villages,” Kind Strangers exists to preserve and elevate the rich artisan legacies of our roots.
We don’t just make textiles – we co-create stories. Stories that take months to bring to life through sketching, hand-dyeing, block printing, weaving, stitching, and finishing. Our goods travel from village to village, across borders and hands, finally arriving in your home, carrying the imprint of every maker along the way.
The name Kind Strangers reflects this spirit of global kinship—strangers connected by kindness, by artistry, and by shared values. We cherish the imperfections of the handmade, celebrate sustainable living, and embrace beauty that speaks softly yet deeply.
The Artisans – The Heart of Everything
Our artisans are not just collaborators—they are our soul, our teachers, our family.
These gifted creators live away from the noise of urban life and carry forward generations of knowledge, craft, and cultural expression. Whether it’s a weaver in Bhuj or a natural dyer in Fès, every piece you touch is a manifestation of their skill and serenity.
At Kind Strangers, we uphold fair trade principles, always letting artisans set their own wages and work at their own pace. We believe in building long-term relationships, not just supply chains. By investing directly in their work, we help preserve their heritage and foster dignified livelihoods that empower whole communities.