Thanks to government initiatives (IWearHandloom, The Handloom Day), online platforms and our quintessential Indian women, the spotlight on Indian handloom is once again, turned on. The fight for pretty sarees and poor weavers is back with a vengeance and is in full gear.
Let’s make India’s handloom industry great again!
India’s handloom industry is not only the oldest traditional industry in the world but also the second biggest contributor to the Indian economy after agriculture. India has more than 59 percent of loom capacity in the world and of course, the impressive record of being the biggest manufacturer of handwoven fabrics- almost 95 percent of them.
Despite that many weaver communities struggle to survive and make ends meet, courtesy- fake sarees and endless middle channels that mar the reputation and eat up on their margins. A handloom saree is the result of endless efforts. The weavers toil away for days, sometimes months to carve those intricate motifs on a delicate silk fabric. Only mavens and silk connoisseurs find the price reasonable, understanding the hard work and hours put by the weavers in creating it.
The demand of handloom soft silk sarees is revived pretty much by the fact that online saree retailers like BharatSthali, Gocoop and Chennai Silks are offering sarees sources directly from the weavers, encouraging fair trade and eliminating middle channels in the process. The customers don’t have to go from a place to another, worried about the fact whether they have the original handloom fabric or not, despite paying the full price for it.
This cause of concern is put to an end by many online saree retailers that give a certificate of authenticity with each purchase. The tech boost to handloom sector is another tangible aspect, which can be used to gauge the popularity of handloom among the young age women. A handloom saree isn’t a price of fabric belonging to your grandma’s wardrobe. It is now a staple that has a contemporary appeal and calibre of becoming a global style statement. The designers are experimenting with the natural fabrics and collaborating with the weavers. The models are sashaying the handloom fabrics, sending the masses into a tizzy!
Know your rights
Customers need to be aware of geographical indication tags to ensure that they have the original and right handloom products. Sometimes, it is difficult to tell apart a fake saree and an original handloom even for a keen eye. In such cases, GI tags help.
Silk Mark of India is the hallmark of pure silk sarees from all over the country. Be it Uppada, Kanjivaram, Banarasi or Chettinad, Silk Mark of India means, you have the right thing.
A handloom saree is forever. It bears strong cultural and social markings. A South Indian saree would have temple motifs whereas a leheriya saree from Rajasthan will have block print of camel and flowers, much relevant to the state. When you buy a saree, you bring a memoir for the generations to come at a price that at the moment may seem a bit too much but is an asset that will be cherished by the future generations.