My passion is creating beautiful, ethically made clothing and accessories that supports jobs and artisan communities in India, Hungary and where the journey takes me.

(picture from my recent visit to the Kalbeliya tribe in Bundi village)

Hi everyone! My name is Maxine. I’m a British-Hungarian entrepreneur and the founder of my own artisanal fashion brand Kafi Folk (www.kafifolk.com). Kafi Folk creates made to order women's collections in collaboration with artisan communities in India, Hungary and anywhere the journey takes me. These collections incorporate unique crafts such as block printing, loom weaving, natural dyeing and embroidery. The goal is to create clothing made with a story - both of the traditional craft and the person making it - using materials supporting the well being of body.

When I founded Kafi Folk in 2019, I knew I wanted to create beautiful clothing. But as the years unfolded, I also began to understand how deeply flawed much of the fashion industry is. The waste, the speed, the pressure, the loss of traditions, and most importantly, the disconnect between maker and wearer.

(photo from our first collection back in 2019)

Instead of accepting this as “normal,” I chose a different path.

I started digging deeper. My journey took me to India and I connected with my first artisan community who showed me a different way of creating. I saw first hand how craft can support a community and what a huge difference it is to wear something which has been handmade. On my visit I learnt as much as I could about various textiles and how they are made. Over time and as my knowledge started to increase, I began to make more conscious decisions when creating my collections. I began to chose more natural fibers over synthetics, natural dyes over chemicals, and most importantly I chose to work directly with artisan communities who still carry centuries-old knowledge in their hands. Since then, I have worked with a number of different artisan teams.

(summer collection 2024)

But this year, I knew it was time to expand and finally take Kafi Folk to the next level.

In October of this year, I once again visited India with the intention to establish new artisan partnerships in a variety of crafts. I understand that if I want to grow this project, I need to build a bigger network. Working with a slow fashion mindset encourages creation with the seasons, not stressful timelines and goals that don' support our teams. We don't create large quantities with one group - the maximum is a 50 -100 pieces per order to start. This means if I want Kafi Folk grow and establish the brand in an International market, the goal is to work with more teams which then results in supporting more communities.

On this trip, I visited the Kalbeliya community in rural villages in Bundi to learn about their local embroidery techniques and explore how we could work together to support their needs. I also spent time at a 4th-generation, women-led block print house in Jaipur, learning about their process, reviewing prints, and creating samples. So many meetings with so many communities, each with incredible skills and unique crafts to offer, who simply need a connection to bring their work to the world. I returned with seven new partnerships, each one rooted in heritage, skill, and shared values. They feel like the partners Kafi Folk was always meant to find.

(photo taken in bagru vilage known for blockprinting)

(photo taken in Kota of the Kota Doria loom weaving community)

For 2026, I am ready to begin working with:

These partnerships are not just “suppliers.” They are creators. Storytellers. Keepers of tradition. They are the heart of what Kafi Folk believes in and how I want to pave the brands future.

Why I’m Asking for Support

For six years, I have run this brand alone - designing, photographing, writing, producing, coordinating with artisans, shipping, and managing every detail myself. And while I’m proud of what I’ve built, I’ve reached the point where Kafi Folk can only grow if I have the support behind me.

To bring these partnerships to life in 2026, I need funding to:

1. Begin production with all seven artisan groups - These projects require upfront payment, design sampling, material sourcing, and travel to work closely with each team.

2. Build a small but dedicated team - So I can focus on design, storytelling, and building the relationships that make this brand meaningful.

3. Update the Kafi Folk website - To build a stronger, more effective website that supports the business while also creating an immersive space that honours every artisan, process, and story behind our work

4. Work with a marketing team - To help communicate this movement internationally - to educate, inspire, and share what ethical craftsmanship really looks like.

5. Create educational and documentary-style content - Because the world needs to see how beautiful slow fashion can be when it’s made with intention and respect.

Why This Matters

We have seen a huge shift in fashion in the last 20 years. Fast fashion currently dominates the industry, but more and more people are waking up to the damage it causes - socially, environmentally, and culturally. I believe slow fashion is on the rise. People want to shop consciously, to know the story behind what they wear, and to feel connected to the source.

Fashion can be different. It can be slower, more thoughtful, and deeply meaningful.

It can uplift entire communities and celebrate the people behind the craft. It can remind us that beauty is more than what we see - it’s the story, care, and connection woven into every piece. And artisanal fashion, this slower approach can be a successful business—or even an empire—with the right people in charge.

I want to be part of this movement, bringing my skills in connecting with people, creating beauty, and managing large teams to help fashion transform for the better.

Kafi Folk is my life’s work - but it’s also part of something larger: a growing global movement to protect traditional craftsmanship, empower communities, and create clothing we truly cherish.

If you choose to support this journey - whether with a donation, a share, or simply by reading my story - please know that you are helping build a future where fashion, honours people, planet, and heritage.

From my heart,

Thank you.

Maxine ♡

(our bestseller print since our first collection)

(from autumn collection 2024)