Tofan Swain is a 56-year-old appliqué artisan based in Pipili, Puri district, Odisha. He began learning the craft at the age of 20 and identifies as largely self-taught. Working primarily with fabric and basic cutting tools, his practice reflects an alternative mode of learning within the craft, distinct from strictly hereditary transmission. His work circulates through local markets, cooperative structures, and intermediary networks. Like many artisans in the region, his practice is shaped by market pressures, material constraints, and broader infrastructural challenges affecting craft livelihoods.