As Jaipur prepares to once again host the Jaipur Literature Festival 2026, beginning 15th January, the city is gearing up for conversations, creativity, and cultural exchange. At ARCH College of Design and Business, students and faculty are looking forward to the festival with a sense of excitement and anticipation. JLF has always been more than a literary gathering—it is a meeting ground for ideas, disciplines, and creative voices. As the countdown to JLF 2026 begins, it is also a moment to pause and revisit a significant chapter from the past: ARCH’s participation at Jaipur Literature Festival 2022.
ARCH & Jaipur Literature Festival: A Shared Cultural Vision
ARCH’s association with JLF under its Design Culture initiative has consistently reflected a shared belief—that design, like literature, shapes society and everyday life. Through this collaboration, ARCH has created platforms where design education meets culture, dialogue, and public engagement. One such defining moment was GABA 2022, ARCH’s flagship graduate fashion show, hosted at the historic Amer Fort during JLF 2022.
GABA 2022 at Amer Fort: Fashion Rooted in Heritage
Set against the grandeur of Amer Fort, GABA 2022-ARCH’s Annual Fashion Show, unfolded as a visual celebration of Rajasthan’s cultural richness. Conceptualised, choreographed, and curated by Ms Archana Surana, Founder and Director, ARCH, the show brought together music, movement, textiles, and craftsmanship. The collection showcased 32 garment creations developed by ARCH students as part of their final academic projects for the year 2021–22.
Inspired by Rajasthan’s vibrant culture, architecture, handicrafts, local sweets, and folk traditions, the students worked with cotton and blended fabrics, using techniques such as bandhani, Sanganeri and Bagru prints, ajrakh, tie & dye, mirror work, and applique. The colour palette reflected the joyful spirit of the state, enlivening the desert landscape through fabric and form. Complementing the garments, jewellery designed by ARCH’s jewellery design students featured silver, brass, and mixed metals, completing the narrative of tradition translated through contemporary design.
Read more about ARCH’s participation at Jaipur Literature Festival 2022.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
GABA 2022 stood as a strong example of ARCH’s experiential learning approach. Students were not only designers but also participants in a real-world fashion production—engaging with choreography, styling, music, and professional presentation. Music by Tanmay Surana, assisted by Aparna Yadav and Nagendra, added rhythm and depth to the show, transforming student work into a cohesive, immersive experience.
Voices on Design, Leadership, and Society
Alongside the fashion show, ARCH also organised an engrossing conversation titled “Form, Design and Function: Leadership & Society” at Hotel Clarks Amer during JLF 2022. Satish Gokhale, Founder Director, Design Directions Private Limited, was in conversation with Ms Archana Surana, where they discussed the evolution of design, leadership, and its impact on society. The event also marked the launch of a book based on research paper proceedings and the Design Culture Learning series at ARCH, featuring insights from 16 eminent designers, researchers, and education professionals.
Reflecting on GABA 2022, Archana Surana, Director and Founder, ARCH College of Design and Business, said,
“We at ARCH are passionate about design and we believe that design is a culture and way of life. Reflecting our passion for creativity and design, GABA 2022 in association with JLF represents the rich textiles, handicrafts, grand architecture, local sweets, and striking culture of Rajasthan where our students got an opportunity to showcase their connection with their roots, ethnicity, traditions and folk art.”
She further added,
“We always encourage our students to think beyond boundaries and come up with fresh ideas and innovative creations. This year’s GABA is a reflection of their talent blended with use of cutting-edge technologies taught at ARCH.”
Looking Ahead
As JLF 2026 approaches, the memories of GABA 2022 continue to inspire a new generation of ARCH students. The revisit serves as a reminder of how design education, when rooted in culture and presented on global platforms, creates meaningful learning experiences. With the upcoming festival on the horizon, ARCH once again looks forward to celebrating ideas, creativity, and the evolving dialogue between design and society.