When Tradition Walked Into Parliament: How Fashion Designer Manish Ranjan Took Bihar’s Artisans to the Global Stage

When Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rose to present the Union Budget earlier this year, it wasn’t just policy and numbers that caught the nation’s attention. Draped in a resplendent Madhubani saree, she made a quiet yet powerful cultural statement—one that celebrated Bihar’s centuries-old artistic heritage.

The saree, rich with intricate hand-painted motifs, was a gift from Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi, a torchbearer of the Mithila Madhubani painting tradition. The two had recently met during an outreach programme in the Mithila region, where the veteran artist made a simple request that the Finance Minister wear the saree while presenting the Budget. Sitharaman obliged, turning the floor of Parliament into a canvas of living tradition.

For Bihar, the gesture resonated far beyond symbolism. It became a moment of collective pride—especially for those working tirelessly to preserve and promote the state’s textile legacy.

A Designer Rooted in Mithila

Among those deeply moved was Manish Ranjan, an entrepreneur and fashion designer from Purnia, in Bihar’s Mithila region. A graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and a stylist who has worked with Bollywood stars, Manish is the founder and creative director of House of Maithili, a fashion venture dedicated to empowering rural artisans through wearable art.

From dressing celebrities to designing livelihoods, Manish’s journey reflects a return to roots with purpose.

“Seeing Madhubani art showcased on a national platform reaffirmed why we do what we do,” he says.

His startup recently signed an MoU with Myntra, taking its handcrafted creations to a wider digital audience. Internationally, House of Maithili has built a growing clientele through collaboration with Zasta Studio, an Indian-owned fashion label based in California. In recognition of its contribution to wearable art, Startup Bihar, a flagship initiative of the state government, certified House of Maithili as Bihar’s first fashion startup dedicated to wearable art.

From Mumbai’s Glamour to Mithila’s Looms

Manish’s journey began in 1998, when he left Purnia to study fashion at NIFT. “Fashion was an alien concept in small towns back then,” he recalls. “There were no smartphones. I learned trends through second-hand magazines.”

After graduating, he spent years in Mumbai’s fast-paced entertainment industry, styling celebrities such as Ranbir Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Malaika Arora, Saif Ali Khan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Anusha Dandekar and Shibani Dandekar, while working with MTV.

Then came the pandemic—a pause that transformed his path. Returning home, Manish saw what he had overlooked for years: immense, untapped talent among rural artisans, especially women. What they lacked was not skill, but opportunity.

That realisation gave birth to House of Maithili—a platform that blends traditional art forms like Madhubani with contemporary fashion, creating sustainable employment while celebrating Bihar’s cultural wealth.

Fashion With a Purpose

More than a brand, House of Maithili is a movement rooted in empowerment. Aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), the initiative focuses on skilling rural artisans and creating dignified livelihoods.

Women artists gain financial independence; men find stable employment closer to home, reducing forced migration to cities. “Skilling is the foundation of empowerment,” Manish believes.

His work has earned national recognition. Manish was conferred the National Icon Award for Social Welfare for his efforts in empowering rural women through skill development.

“From housewives confined to their kitchens to contributors and breadwinners for their families, these women are not just making clothes,” he says. “They are weaving the fabric of change.”

Building Bihar’s Handloom Future

Manish now envisions establishing Bihar’s largest handicraft and handloom cluster, aiming to employ 400 women under the government’s cluster scheme. Discussions with the Ministry of MSME are underway, with operations expected to begin in April. A recent meeting with Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh has further strengthened his belief in Bihar’s fashion potential.

House of Maithili has previously leveraged the Samarth Scheme of the Ministry of Textiles to provide hand-weaving training, ensuring sustainability in skill development. “We may not have highly skilled professionals yet,” Manish admits, “but my team is incredibly hardworking.”

From Six Women to Sixty-Two Dreams

Launched in 2022 with just six women artisans and a modest loan under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), House of Maithili has grown steadily. Today, over 62 women create hand-painted, embroidered, and woven garments—each piece a testament to patience, skill, and heritage.

While the brand initially relied on a B2B survival model, with revenues coming from trade fairs and exhibitions, it is now evolving into a retail force through partnerships with Myntra and Zasta Studio. At the recent India International Trade Fair, Manish connected with international buyers and hopes to forge new global collaborations.

Resilience in Every Stitch

The journey, however, has not been without heartbreak. Early in his career, Manish faced a crushing setback when a renowned celebrity rejected all 26 outfits he had designed for an MTV project. “I was in tears, convinced I had failed,” he recalls. But perseverance paid off. Over time, he built enduring relationships with artists who later trusted him with personal styling beyond professional assignments.

House of Maithili, too, faced scepticism—about sustainable fashion emerging from Bihar, about scalability, about viability. Limited resources and digital challenges remain hurdles. “We need investors who believe in our vision,” Manish says, emphasising that profit is only one part of the mission. Uplifting an entire community is the real goal.

A Dream Woven in Mithila

As House of Maithili looks ahead—towards global markets, expanded operations, and deeper impact—its mission remains unchanged.

“We’re not just making clothes,” Manish says. “We’re telling stories, preserving traditions, and empowering communities. Every stitch carries a dream.”

And so, from the corridors of Parliament to the looms of Mithila, the threads of Bihar’s heritage continue to travel—guided by a designer who brought the lessons of India’s fashion capital back home, and turned them into a future stitched with dignity, culture, and hope.