CONSCIOUS SOURCING
Behind every PROTSAAH piece is a maker, a place and a centuries-old craft. Designed in Zürich by our founder Salonie and made by hand across India and Tibet — here is the who, the what and the how behind our collections.
Handcrafted Demi-fine pieces to cherish
Jewellery Collections
What we make. Our jewellery is handmade in recycled sterling silver or recycled brass, finished in 22ct gold-plating and set with natural, ethically sourced gemstones and pearls - pieces designed to carry a story long before they're gifted.
Who makes it. Designed in Zürich and handcrafted in our own workshop in Jaipur, India. There, each piece is cut, finished, polished and plated by hand. Our signature Shimmering Disk collection is made by artisan partners in Tibet, and it means the most to us. These artisans had no background in silverwork. We trained them from the ground up, and equipped their home-based workshops with melting and moulding machines. A new skill became a lasting, independent livelihood. Each disk is shaped and polished by hand, so it catches the light like water.
Why silver. Silver can be re-melted and remade endlessly without losing its character. Nothing is wasted, and a piece can be reborn rather than retired. Our gemstones are cut and set in-house in Jaipur, and our gold-plating uses real 24K gold powder sourced through members of the Responsible Jewellery Council.
HANDMADE PAPIER-MÂCHÉ ORNAMENTS
'Kar-i-Qalamdani' Shalimar Collection
What we make. Delicately handcrafted papier-mâché ornaments, 3D and 2D figurines drawing on French artistic themes and the natural world, in an abundance of designs.
The craft. This is kar-i-qalamdani, the painted papier-mâché of Kashmir: an art brought from Persia to the Srinagar valley in the 14th–15th century and refined there ever since. Each ornament is built up by hand from recycled paper pulp, then painted in fine layers with a squirrel-hair brush and sealed to a soft lustre. No two are ever identical.
Who makes it. Handcrafted by skilled artisans in Kashmir, each piece finished by their own expert eye, with a focus on repurposed and consciously sourced materials.
luxurious embroidered ornaments
Zardozi Collection
What we make. Hand-embroidered decorative ornaments that bring warmth, texture and a little quiet opulence to your home and your celebrations.
The craft. Zardozi, from the Persian zar (gold) and dozi (sewing), is metallic-thread embroidery that flourished in the Mughal courts of the 17th century under Emperor Akbar, once worked in real gold and silver wire for royalty. The same techniques survive today in the hands of a small number of master families.
Who makes it. Hand-embroidered in Agra & old Delhi, through a PROTSAAH apprenticeship programme. Many of our makers are young men rebuilding their lives; some after a conviction, some who had simply lost their way. They train under master craftsmen and learn this ancient art stitch by stitch. It gives them a skilled trade, honest work and a genuine second chance.
Every motif is couched by hand, using repurposed and consciously sourced materials.
Handwoven authentic Kashmir Pashmina
Gulmarg Collection
What we make. Gulmarg is our collection of handwoven pashmina scarves and stoles, spun from the world's finest cashmere.
The craft. True pashmina begins high on the Ladakh plateau, at around 4,500 metres, where Changthangi goats grow a feather-soft undercoat to survive winters of −40°C. Each spring the fibre is hand-combed, never sheared, yielding only a small amount per goat each year. It is then hand-spun, handwoven and handembroidered thread by thread in the Kashmir Valley; a single scarf can take 200 to 300 hours to complete.
Who makes it. Woven by artisan partners in Kashmir who carry generations of cashmere craft, working at a fair wage in safe workshops. Our Gulmarg project began in 2013 and today supports over 13 artisan families, including an apprenticeship programme that encourages women weavers and embroiderers.
Projects We've Been Proud to Support
Our Journey
Over the years, PROTSAAH has partnered with artisan communities around the world. These collections are no longer part of our current range, but they remain an important part of our story.
Handwoven and Ethically Sourced Baskets
Kigali (Rwanda) Collection
Crafted from sisal and sweet grass using techniques passed down over generations, these celebrated "peace baskets" are a Rwandan symbol of unity and renewal. The Kigali project worked with over 70 African women artisans to help them support their families and communities through their craft.
Handwoven cotton travel accessories
Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) Collection
Created in collaboration with Design for Peace and Afrika Tiss, this collection was made alongside local and refugee artisans, providing sustainable income through beautiful, contemporary handwoven pieces.
Our promise
Every maker we work with crafts in safe, dignified conditions and is paid 30–40% above the local market average, because a fair wage is the most honest form of sustainability.
Read about Our Commitment.