Chittaranjan is from Manibandha, Orissa and weaves stunning ikat fabrics. His father was known in his village for his tying skills. Chittaranjan loved learning the craft but his father discouraged him from taking it up and told him to focus on his studies instead. Unfortunately, Chittaranjan lost his father when he was 12 years old. His mother raised him and his siblings. 

After his father's death, Chittaranjan learned ikat to financially support his family while also completing a training to join a spinning mill manufacturing company. He loved the craft but struggled to make enough income from it, until he took up a training course with Antaran, which helped him make his work financially viable! He now runs a social enterprise with 15 other weavers called Chitta Ranjan Organization (C.R.O Ikat).  And we're really grateful :) Chittaranjan doesn't just make beautiful fabrics, but puts in the work to create high-quality fabrics he can be proud of.