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