| 'Indian Handlooms', a term that spells exquisity, | | | | khes of Punjab, jacquards from Uttar Pradesh, the |
| ebullience and enunciate a multifarious equip of | | | | phenek, tongam and bottle designs from Assam and |
| excogitating designs, both ethnic and modernistic. | | | | Manipur, and lots more. |
| Providing livelihood to 90 million people, the level of | | | | Indian handloom continues to be craft oriented, even |
| artistry and intricacy achieved by Indian handloom | | | | though it was circumscribed by a limited choice of |
| fabrics is unparalleled and beyond the scope of | | | | processing and technology. The Indian handloom |
| modern machinery, preserving its heritage and culture. | | | | industry mainly exports fabrics, bed spreads and |
| With a long tradition of excellence in its | | | | covers, quilts, shams, pillow covers, curtains, towels, |
| craftsmanship, Indian handloom is said to have dated | | | | table linen, cushions and pads, tapestries and |
| back to the ancient ages. The earliest Indian | | | | upholsteries, carpets, etc, the whole lot needed in |
| fragment of cloth (before the Christian era) with a | | | | making a house a home. |
| hansa (swan) design was excavated from a site near | | | | Looking back, the story of the Indian handlooms in |
| Cairo. Later excavations from Harappan sites | | | | the last fifty years is one of patient nurturing of an |
| revealed a scrap of coarse madder dyed cloth and a | | | | industry which touches upon the livelihood of millions |
| terracotta spindle whorls which evidenced their | | | | of Indians. Little efforts were given to develop the |
| expertise over handlooms, Indian handlooms, to be | | | | Indian handloom sector during the first half of the |
| more specific. | | | | present industry. The handloom weavers were pitted |
| The turning point of Indian handlooms and its | | | | against modern textile mills. Their ingenuity and skill |
| weavers is said to be India's independence i.e. 15th of | | | | contributed to their success in preserving the long |
| august, 1947. The Charkha acted as a symbol of | | | | tradition of excellence of Indian handlooms. |
| national regeneration, as propagated by Mahatma | | | | And in today's date Indian handlooms are going global |
| Gandhi, and the focus on the weavers of Indian | | | | in a big way and have found support in the designer |
| handlooms during the Indian freedom movement was | | | | community. "Handlooms represent not just an |
| largely responsible for the breakthrough. And at the | | | | industry but the cultural heritage of India. It needs to |
| dawn of independence, Indian handloom industry | | | | chart out a road map for itself. Designers can play a |
| became the largest cottage industry of the country, | | | | major role in promoting handlooms. However, so far |
| a point of recognition which is still maintained. | | | | we have not been able to utilize our own resources |
| Indian handlooms cater to the needs of a diverse | | | | to cope up with the changing lifestyles and |
| cultural ethos ranging from exquisite fabrics to | | | | aspirations. The handloom industry and the fashion |
| popular items of mass production for daily use. A | | | | designers should work in coordination to initiate yet |
| village without a weaver is a myth in the Indian | | | | another 'swadeshi' movement," Rathi Vinay Jha said |
| scenario; millions of looms across the country are | | | | at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week held in the |
| busy producing the traditional beauty of a precious | | | | capital recently. |
| heritage called Indian handlooms. | | | | A rich and resilient media of ethnic expression, Indian |
| Undoubtedly cotton gave the splendid weavers of | | | | handloom is given is due respect by the government |
| Indian handloom their resplendent expression but silk | | | | too. National awards are given every year to master |
| and woolen cloths also originated during the pre-Vedic | | | | weavers in recognition of their excellence and |
| era, endemic to India. In the world of handlooms | | | | contribution. An expression which deserves to be |
| there are muslin of Chanderi, silk brocades of | | | | respected and preserved, Indian handlooms today |
| Varanasi, the ikats from Andhra and Orissa, the tie | | | | finds place in the national and traditional design |
| and dye from Rajasthan and Gujrat, the phulkari and | | | | vocabularies of the world.indianhandicrafts.co. |