Apparel November 2019 Apparel November 2019 issue | Page 54

FEATURE
A HANDLOOM AT EVERY TURN
India’s textile landscape may have been indundated by power looms but many of its towns and
cities still pride themselves on their age-old handlooms and handwoven treasures. In this vein,
Anurima Das documents some of the many prized handloom towns of the country.
India has a diverse history of handloomed
products. From the opulence of a handcrafted
sari to the subtle splendour of weaves, the
quintessential Indian handloom is rich and diverse
in its offering. The textile industry in India, the
second-most important employment-generator
in the country, has, over the years, contributed
significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP)
of the Indian economy. India also happens to
be the second largest producer of cotton fibre
in the world. All these factors cumulatively draw
our attention to the prized handloom. Not only
that but at present, the handloom industry has
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taken on quite a revivalist approach. Every next
brand or designer is now willing to unearth
age-old handloom traditions of the country,
lending it their own interpretations, modern or
otherwise. From embracing eco-friendly ways
to empowering artisans working the loom, the
industry is committed to giving a new lease of life
to the handloom sector in its entirety.
Honouring this versatility, we take a look at
some of the most prominent handloom towns
of India. (This is not an exhaustive list but an
attempt to highlight just some of the country’s
numerous handloom towns):