Set within the historic Jushin Kaikan in Japan, Neytt presents a statement collaboration with Japanese-Indian designer Bijin Davis, transforming the South Indian loom into a canvas for expressive textile art. Drawing inspiration from transient natural phenomena, Davis translates the movement of water, refracted light, shifting colours and the quiet transformations of nature into rugs that explore emotion, memory and healing.
The collection features two distinctive series. Liquid Jewels captures the ethereal beauty of raindrops and rainbows, reflecting the hope and solace found in nature during periods of uncertainty. Inspired by the artist’s experience of navigating life in an unfamiliar city, the work uses delicate colour gradations to evoke light sparkling through rain-soaked windows. A Liquid Ballet draws from the ripples and splashes created by pebbles thrown into water, transforming the experience of heartbreak and emotional recovery into a striking visual expression of resilience and inner peace.
Davis’s cross-disciplinary practice spans textiles, furniture, objects and spatial design, shaped by her life between Japan and India. Her collaboration with Neytt demonstrates how traditional craftsmanship can accommodate contemporary artistic expression while retaining its human touch.
Rooted in a century-old natural-fibre legacy in Cherthala, Kerala, Neytt advocates a shift from volume-driven manufacturing towards innovation, distinctive design and greater brand value. The collection uses New Zealand wool to achieve the depth of colour and tonal gradations required by the artistic vision, while the company continues to explore indigenous materials such as sisal, jute, seagrass, water hyacinth, hemp, banana fibre and Indian silks.
For Neytt, the collaboration represents a broader philosophy: heritage must evolve to remain relevant. Preserving traditional crafts is not enough; they must create meaningful opportunities for artisans and inspire new possibilities for architects, designers and international collectors. By combining imagination with material expertise, Neytt and Davis demonstrate how Indian craftsmanship can move beyond conventional textiles to become a compelling medium for contemporary art and design.
Read the full story that first appeared in Robb Report India here:
Leave a Reply