Cheyenne Olivier & Suket Dhir

Cheyenne Olivier and Suket Dhir collaborate with Abhijit Banerjee, Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, to explore the economics of traditional crafts through jamdani, an extraordinary extra-weft weaving technique once associated with the legendary Bengal muslin, which was “the envy of the world” until British colonial policies destroyed the industry. This interdisciplinary project weaves together visual storytelling, fashion design, and economic research to illuminate both the creative challenges and the commercial potential of reviving this fabled craft.

French illustrator Olivier, known for her geometric drawing style and collaborations with Nobel Prize-winning economists, will transform Banerjee’s short stories about jamdani economics into compelling visual narratives. 

Fashion designer Dhir, the winner of the International Woolmark Prize, is known for his narrative approach to clothing. Working with master weavers in West Bengal to translate these illustrations into fabric, Dhir will create vertical scrolls for installation alongside documentary videos of the weaving process made by the cinematographer Ranu Ghosh, a long-time collaborator of Banerjee.

The project addresses urgent questions about craft sustainability in an era of global inequality and fast fashion. While jamdani—historically described as “woven air” for its extraordinary fineness—is experiencing a revival, contemporary weavers face the challenge of connecting traditional techniques to global couture markets.

Through exhibitions, workshops, and public lectures, the residency demonstrates how visual narratives can make economic ideas accessible in an image-driven world, while generating deeper understanding of why many traditional crafts teeter on the edge of extinction and what sustainable revival requires.

In 2003, Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics Abhijit Banerjee co-founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) with Esther Duflo and Sendhil Mullainathan, and he remains one of the Lab’s directors. Banerjee is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Econometric Society. He is a winner of the Infosys Prize and a co-recipient of the 2019 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel for his groundbreaking work in development economics research.

Biography: MIT Economics Department

Cheyenne Olivier is a French illustrator. She graduated from the Estienne Arts and Design School in Paris and the Decorative Arts School in Strasbourg, where she earned an MFA in illustration. Her images, characterized by their geometric and playful nature, often center around the visual representation of social and environmental issues. 

Notably, Olivier collaborated with Nobel Prize-winning economist Esther Duflo on a series of 10 picture books addressing poverty. Currently, she illustrates a monthly column on food and economics alongside Nobel Prize winner Abhijit Banerjee for the Times of India. 

Through collaborations with Indian authors, artists, and readers, along with her active participation in numerous literary festivals and events, Olivier’s connection with India continues to deepen.

Olivier has been honored with the Young Talent Award at the International Comics Festival in Angoulême, as well as the regional Avenir Prize by the French National Crafts Institute. She is currently pursuing a PhD in children’s literature at the University of Tours and the Design School in Orléans. 

Social: Instagram

Suket Dhir graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology and achieved a successful association with Good Earth. The designer has garnered popularity for playful fabrics and attention to detail. His signature creations harmonize leisure and minimalism. Dhir is known as a man of complexities. A former travel risk analyst, Svetlana Dhir, is the muse for the brand.

Website: suketdhir.com