Celebrating Global Voices for International Women's Day
Each March, around International Women’s Day, Ibu gathers artisans, allies, and community leaders in Charleston to celebrate women who are preserving cultural heritage and building economic opportunity through craft. In 2026, we turn our focus to India, home to one of the world’s most ancient and diverse textile traditions.
From the finely detailed chikankari embroidery of Lucknow to richly woven himroo from Aurangabad, hand-painted kalamkari from Bangalore, and traditions of block printing, mirror work, and metalwork, India’s crafts tell stories that span centuries. This year, Ibu honors the women ensuring these traditions remain vibrant, relevant, and economically sustaining today.
On the evening of March 5, our Holi Hai! Gala, presented by Bank of America Private Bank, will fill Festival Hall with color, music, cuisine, and fashion, honoring three extraordinary artisan leaders—Mamta Varma, Arushi Chowdhury Khanna, and Anita Reddy—whose work uplifts communities and preserves cultural heritage through craft.
Earlier that same day, I hope you’ll join us for one of my favorite parts of the festivities— an intimate opportunity for a deeper conversation at the Women in India Mini-Summit, presented by the Wayne and Alicia Gregory Family Foundation. Taking place at the Charleston Library Society, artisans will speak from the heart about their work, its impact on their communities, and the vital role of craft in establishing sustainable livelihoods for women. Even if you cannot attend the evening gala, these daytime sessions are a wonderful, affordable way to connect with global leaders!
This year’s Mini-Summit brings together celebrated local and global voices exploring culture and heritage, artisan-led design, and women’s leadership. Speakers include Veda Patel, a junior at Ashley Hall School, who will reflect on her great-grandmother’s involvement in Gandhi’s Swadeshi Movement. Ibu founder Susan Hull Walker will moderate a conversation with artisan leaders Arushi Chowdhury Khanna (LoomKatha, Aurangabad), Mamta Varma (Bhairvi’s Chikan, Lucknow), and Anita Reddy (DWARAKA Plus, Bangalore) on preserving heritage craft and expanding economic opportunity for women artisans.
Internationally acclaimed artist Spandita Malik, whose work combines photography, textiles, and social practice, will discuss themes of gender, authority, and representation with Dr. Tushara Bindu Gude, curator at the Foundation for Spirituality and the Arts and former curator at LACMA. Shimna Sameer, managing director at Bank of America Private Bank, will join Deniz Roth, Ibu director of design, and Anita Reddy to explore collaborative design as part of the SpringBOArd Ibu Atelier program.
I hope you will join me to listen, learn, and connect with women who are shaping the future of craft through leadership, creativity, and care. This event has sold out in the past few years, so don’t miss out. Come experience India’s textile heritage, meet the women at the forefront of slow fashion and social justice, and help carry their stories forward.
We look forward to welcoming you.
With gratitude,
Lasley Steever
