The Ananda label was born in 1979 with a Japanese partner to support & develop with design intervention, Ikat weaves & indigo dyeing & printing. Research & development of new fabric textures & structures has grown over the years with extensive district by district & village by village research undertaken by its founding partners for the “Saris of India” research & book series & the Visvakarma exhibitions between 1981 & 1992.
With the publication of the last volume of “Saris–Tradition & Beyond” in 2010, the production of various unstitched garments (including saris, shawls, stoles, sarongs) & stitched garments; home furnishings (including curtain drapes, table linen, bed linen, throws, cushions & rugs) is being enlarged especially in the handspun / handwoven range in cotton & silks.

Other publications by Rta Kapur Chishti
1982-Contributor to ‘Master Weavers’ coinciding with the first Visvakarma exhibition.
1986-Author for ‘Dhaari’ accompanying the second Visvakarma exhibition.
1987-Editor & contributor to ‘Visvakarma Ksetra’ coinciding with the third Visvakarma exhibition
1988- Scripted for Textile films on Andhra Ikats and Kanchipuram brocades made for NFDC by Dev Benegal.

1989- Co-author and editor of the first volume “Saris of India” published by Wiley Eastern Pvt.Ltd.

1993-Contributing author to the book titled ‘Arts and Crafts of Central India’ published by Mapin publishers, India.
1994-Contributing author on ‘Modern Indian Costume’ for the 18 volume “Dictionary of art” by Macmillan publishers, U.K.
1995-Co-author & editor for second volume of “Saris of India” published by Wiley Eastern Pvt.Ltd.
2000-Co-author for “Handcrafted Indian Textiles Tradition and beyond” published by Roli books.
March 2010-Co-author & editor final volume “Saris–Tradition & Beyond” published by Roli Books.