A look back at Crafted by Makers, a workshop series by Dhaka Makers
As Big Tech continues to ruin perfectly good online entertainment with ads and AI slop, there is an increased demand for organic, genuine connections and hands-on experience. On the heels of the success of Dhaka Makers 3, the organisers tapped into the zeitgeist with Crafted by Makers: The Workshop Series — a four-day creative experience celebrating the joy of hands-on making. Between 13–16 November 2025, this edition, which was held at Shala Neighbourhood Art Space, offered an intimate, skill-based programme, designed to immerse the participants in the act of creation.
Stripping away the markets and exhibitions, the workshop series harnessed the power of participation by emphasising learning, play and mindful craftsmanship. The four-day event featured immersive sessions led by local artisans, facilitators, and creative educators, open to students, professionals, expats, and hobbyists, just about anyone who wanted to dip their feet into a new craft.
Each session of the series was designed around a theme to welcome different audiences and skill levels. The Maker’s Masterclass Sessions included in-depth workshops led by skilled artisans for participants to deepen their practice of heritage crafts or to learn new, technical crafts such as Nakshi Kantha stitching, terracotta work, or doll-making, to name a few. There was a Mini-Makers segment geared towards young learners, providing an opportunity for kids and parents to explore their creativity together. There were beginner-friendly sessions open to all, and participants learned to make candles, miniature models, or origami in an encouraging environment.
Siyam Hossain, aka “Miniature Architect”, who conducted workshops on miniature crafts on Day 2 and Day 4 of the series shared: “Conducting the two-day Crafted by Makers workshop was a wonderful experience. The children’s session was especially inspiring, as model-making is still new in Bangladesh and they expressed their imagination with so much excitement. The adult session was more challenging, yet everyone participated with great enthusiasm. Workshops like this show how creative learning can bring people together and help this art form grow in our country.” When asked if the event met his expectations, he replied: “I went into the workshop expecting it to be fun and engaging, and it really was. I was a little worried about whether the kids could handle the model-paper cutting, but they did amazingly well. The adults also managed the tougher PVC cutting and gluing with great effort.”
The core philosophy of Dhaka Makers is to celebrate creativity in all forms and this series is a way of keeping the spirit of the festival alive year-round. Crafted by Makers: The Workshop Series, designed to encourage people to make the shift from watching to making, might have been much smaller in scale, but it was just as vibrant.
Rahnuma Ahsan Raima, Co-Founder of Newton’s Archive, who ran the candle-making workshop on Day 2 of the series said: “I think it was an absolutely great opportunity to meet people and share our craft. We had so much fun doing the workshop and hope to do these more!”
To make the fun last beyond the event, those who signed up for the workshops received curated workshop kits, guided handouts, and take-home creations, along with the opportunity to connect with a growing community of makers. On the other side of the workshop table, select facilitators from the series got a chance to be featured in future collaborations under Curated by Makers at Jatra, supporting local artists through retail visibility and income opportunities. Crafted by Makers is supported by Dhaka’s creative community and aims to continue the brand’s mission of fostering connection through craft, curiosity, and collaboration.