This story revolves around Zari Karigars seamlessly shuffling beads into pins and passing white crystals through yellow fabric, headed by Vivek Ji, the preserver of this timeless art form.
In a quiet corner of Dharavi, a small sculptor’s studio runs on tradition, patience, and mutual respect. Led by a young but deeply admired teacher, the space is both workshop and home. Here, idols are crafted slowly, shaped with care and rooted in custom. In a rapidly changing city, this studio offers stillness, a quiet commitment to craft and community.
Two brothers behind a pharmacy counter tell us a story of resilience and adaptability, ranging from spreading wares in Bandra to spinning rakhis on an umbrella in the rains.
Bimla Aunty’s home sits like a gentle pause in a constantly moving world. Bustling with children and books, she attempts to make the most of her community-driven lifestyle in Koliwada.
Joseph Koli is a man with 68 years behind him and innumerable kilometres of roads beneath his name, having worked in the Public Service Department of Mumbai for four decades.
Dharavi's young fashion entrepreneur, Rohan Mane, shares his challenging yet exciting journey of building a streetwear brand. Dharavi became the perfect ecosystem for his creative experimentation, offering everything from design and stitching to manufacturing, branding, and shipping, all in one place.
On May 9 - 10 urbz is bringing together collectives and institutions in Cali, Colombia. This is part of a 6 months project to develop a system to promote locally driven initiatives.
As part of the ABCD project, street lighting emerged as an urgent need for the residents of Dharavi Koliwada. A need that was addressed through a year-long collaboration between urbz, the Dharavi Koli Jamat, local electricians and residents. Read about how the process unfolded and what comes next.
An afternoon rendezvous with Vasu Mama, as he narrates about his long-lived and rich life in Dharavi, his current routine post retirement, his values, ideas and opinions about Dharavi and its future.
Koliwada in Dharavi, connected to the Mithi River, embodies a unique amphibious landscape shaped by traditional practices,ecological stewardship, and community resilience amidst urban challenges. The Garden of Festivities project highlights thesettlement’s fight for sustainable coexistence with Mumbai’s shifting coastal terrain.