The latest initiative by the Ministry of Textiles is designed to enhance and uplift the handloom sector.

Yesterday evening marked a significant triumph for India’s handloom industry, as leading retail giants collaborated with the Government of India to bolster the growth of the handloom sector. This substantial commitment entails the private sector directly procuring from handloom clusters, thus enhancing economic opportunities for weavers and artisans while safeguarding traditional crafts from fading into obscurity.

Textile corporations such as Arvind True Blue Limited, Raymond Ltd, Welspun India Limited, Titan Co Ltd, and Reliance Retail Limited entered into agreements with the Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, and textile firms, Weavers’ Service Centres. They pledged to collaborate with textile clusters identified by the government to ensure the sustainable advancement of the handloom sector. This announcement was made by Smriti Zubin Irani, the Minister of Textiles, and the renowned cricketer Sachin Tendulkar during the Artisan Speak event organized by the Ministry of Textiles in conjunction with IMG Reliance.

Set against the magnificent backdrop of the historic Elephanta Caves, India’s foremost fashion designers congregated to exhibit the mastery of Indian textiles. Rahul Mishra and Meera Muzaffar Ali showcased the artistry of chikankari, Payal Khandwala celebrated Benarasi brocades, Gaurang embraced Kanjeevaram silks, Karisma Shahani Khan employed Kota doria/Chanderi textiles, Padmaja harnessed Maheshwari textiles, and Abraham & Thakore presented hand-block prints on handloom cotton, among other remarkable contributions.

The remarkable aspect of these textiles was their diverse origins from various regions of India. In an effort to preserve this invaluable heritage, the Government has granted exclusive patents, known as Geographical Indications (GIs), to approximately 168 handloom and handicraft products. This collaboration with the private sector is poised to encourage the utilization of these textiles while fortifying the supply chain capabilities of grassroots stakeholders.