New Delhi, July 26 -- Indian craftsmanship should remain profoundly Indian. What needs to become global is the language through which we present it.

For me, there are two very different things: the soul of a garment and the expression of that soul. The soul should NEVER change. The expression should evolve continuously.

The soul includes everything that makes a piece impossible to reproduce anywhere else in the world, viz. our handloom traditions, our weaving techniques, our natural fibres, the knowledge accumulated over centuries, the human touch of our artisans, and the philosophy behind every craft.

These are not only our heritage, they are India's greatest competitive advantage. They are what nobody but India has, and the attribute...