Let's celebrate and take time to appreciate the craftsmanship of Indian handloom, and the weavers, who do all the magic.
When it came to the textile days at fashion weeks, I was one of the few who was excited to experience it. It was more to do with the ethos of my college, School of Fashion Technology. Indian handicraft industry was always at the forefront there, and a project like craft documentation ensured that we thoroughly appreciated the art as well as the artist. That's why National Handloom Day is special to me.
Celebrated annually on the 7th of August, National Handloom Day pays tribute to the ultimate craftsmanship. Indian handloom weaves are one of the essential parts of our cultural heritage. As you explore different pockets of India, you'll find a unique weave of that particular area with its individual characteristics. Paithani, Patola, Banarasi, Jamdani, Kanjivaram, and Chanderi are just a few of these glorious weaves.
A fabric is manually (by hands and/or foot) woven with handloom, without any other source of energy. The weaver makes each fabric with love and care and ensures quality above it all. The attention to detail takes time and labor-intensive efforts by a skilled professional. To give you a glimpse of the hard work, let's take the example of a Patola saree. It takes about six months to at times a year to make one saree, because of the overall process, which also involves dyeing each yarn.
With the advancement in technology, these weaves are produced at a much faster pace. As the machines took over, the handloom sector took a big hit, and low prices overshadowed the reduced finesses of the fabric. I think the worst of it all was that the awareness about the amount of hard work and time that goes into the beauty of a handloom textile diminished. The expert weavers truly weave magic with their hands, and that's why they and their art deserved the appreciation and celebration.
The 7th of August was the date on which the Swadeshi Movement was officially launched in 1905, and hence it was chosen to celebrate National Handloom Day. The first National Handloom Day was celebrated in the year 2015 on the 115th anniversary of this movement. Since then, the Ministry of Textiles has taken up initiatives to promote and preserve the rich history of handlooms. Even Indian designers are making waves with these rich, handwoven textiles and making sure the craft and the craftsmen are in the spotlight.
I just wanted to write this blog to share my love for the handloom weaves with you and to keep the conversation going.
Happy National Handloom Day!
Love,
Rashmi B.
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