FT NEWS

The seventh day of August is celebrated as the National Handloom Day every year. The Ministry of Textiles is working overtime to promote Indian handlooms and many of India's leading designers have are working closely in the sector to uplift it.

Designer Payal Khandwala works with handwoven silks, khadi, cottons and linens, while Anita Dongre is known to encourage artisanal communities.

Anita Dongre: According to Dongre, from heritage Banarasi weaves that have an innate royal feel, to luminous, featherweight chanderi cottons -- finely-crafted handloom pieces will always win the creative battle over all things factory-made. Moreover, India's handloom industry, unlike several other sectors, is innately environmentally conscious and responsible. It also provides artisans with a sustainable means of income in their villages. It's about time we put the spotlight back on traditional weaves and give handloom its due.

Anavila Misra: India has always marveled the world with its traditional crafts and hand-woven fabrics. Designer Anavila Misra is working to unravel these very Indian fabrics. Handlooms form the very essence of India’s heritage. By appreciating these textiles, we show our love and pride for these traditional crafts. Her label’s core philosophy is that “Mindful creation leads to mindful consumption”. In the year 2011 they launched the first handwoven linen sari and that created disruption in the sari design sector. They started on the premise of creating meaningful and contemporary fashion by utilising handlooms, handwoven fabrics and following the path of slow creation. They have been working with various artisan clusters and weavers from the very beginning and this relationship has evolved over the years.

Working with natural raw materials and creating value for all hands and minds involved in process leads to mindful and sustainable creation. Creating sustainable employment is the core to our sustainability promise as a brand and we keep the framework of sustainability at the heart of our thinking and develop designs and processes which support this philosophy.

Archana Jaju: Hyderabad based Archana Jaju works with generational handloom and real craftsmen covering the southern and western periphery of the country. The designer's Kalamkari and Bandhani creations are a living ode to Indian handlooms. The designer is hoping to unravel the rich heritage of India through her creations.

Her love for Indian handlooms is immense. Each handloom brings out beauty and elegance by depicting its true Indian roots. Her label has always worked on amalgamating the rich traditional textiles and patterns with modern cuts and silhouettes making the pieces timeless and elegant. She  has been honoured to work with skillful artisans from seventeen craft clusters across India such as Kalamkari from SriKalahasti in South India, Bandhani from Kutch, Lucknowi from Lucknow, ParsiGara from the remote interiors of Bengal, Khadi from Srikakulam; Venkatgiri, Kanjeevarams from Chennai and Banarasis from Varanasi. This has also helped in providing livelihoods to around 200 families and reviving the glorious art forms of this country.