OUR PROJECTS

Years

2021-2023

Scope

Print Licensing

Impact Location

India

The design originates from Patta Chitra, an Indigenous scroll-painting tradition of West Bengal, India, historically used to narrate folklore through song and imagery. Licensed through The Rurban Library, this artwork became Patagonia’s first external design print, created for its 50th anniversary collection “Together.” Produced in over 100,000 units and selling out within two months, the collaboration brought global visibility to Patta Chitra artistry. This project not only opened pathways for future commissions but also demonstrated how digital design approaches can reimagine heritage art forms within global markets, ensuring both equity and commercial impact.

Years

2022-2024

Scope

Art Licensing + Marketing

Impact Location

India & China

What happens when an Indian Indigenous art form reaches the global stage through a Spanish fashion brand? By leveraging Rurban’s equitable licensing, Springfield used artworks from our library, each traceable to its artist. Their team travelled to India to create a documentary following the journey from central India’s Bhil community to the fashion collection, offering consumers an intimate look at the cultural roots behind the designs. Rurban further amplified this storytelling through custom animated digital assets. Repeating this success, Springfield partnered again with Rurban in 2024 to feature China’s Miao community through the same end-to-end approach.

Years

2023

Scope

Art Licensing

Impact Location

China

Co-designed as a richly handcrafted upcycling project, it fuses NYC urban fashion with the batik mastery of the Miao in China. Rurban’s team backpacked overstock garments from three quintessential NYC brands – Noah, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Triple Five Soul – to collaborate with Miao and Buyi artisans in Guizhou. Using hand-spun cotton, farm-grown indigo dye, mountain water washes, and traditional silver embellishments, artisans worked their magic, transforming street style into heritage-rich wearable art, imbued with vibrant cultural narratives. The project redefined bespoke urban fashion while embodying Rurban’s ethos: celebrating the unexpected wonder that happens when global villages and city streets collide. 100% of all proceeds from the collection returned to the communities.

Years

2023

Scope

Art Licensing

Impact Location

India

What if our clothing choices mattered as much as what we eat? Inspired by the vibrant vegetables in Miao paintings from Southwest China, bok choy becomes a symbol of organic, home-grown nourishment. Produced in India, the capsule uses bio-based fabrics made from milk protein, sugarcane, soybean, and bamboo. Digitized motifs from Miao paintings are reinterpreted through Indian traditional woodblock printing and fine hand embroidery, accented with buttons from coconut shells and recycled plastic. The collection embodies a digital-physical synergy that amplifies art preservation while honoring craftsmanship, enabling cross-cultural impact through both innovation in concept and through tangible cultural depth. 100% of all proceeds from the collection returned to the communities.

Years

2022

Scope

Art Licensing & Product Development

Impact Location

India

Drawn by Sanjay Parhad of the Warli tribe in western India and co-designed by Rurban for National Geographic,this digitally printed travel pouch collection celebrates the sacred bond between humans and nature. Through fine lines and earthy pigments, the artwork depicts trees, rivers, animals, and people sharing space and spirit, honoring the interdependence of all beings. Rurban transformed the licensed artwork into a dynamic animation, blending “Animated Forest” with works from ten Warli artists and a contemporary interpretation of sounds from the traditional Tarpa dance. By fusing digital storytelling with heritage art, we amplify visibility and invite global audiences into a living tapestry of agrarian life, seasonal rhythms, sacred rituals, and community spirit, immersing viewers in its essence.