National Handloom Day: flaunt the warp and weft

Indian handloom products have not been adequately marketed globally and “we need to change this trend”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inaugurating the first National Handloom Day.

It is a matter of concern that despite a long history, India’s handloom sector does not find a place in reference books, he said.

The National Handloom Day is of historical significance as it marks the launch of the ‘Swadeshi’ Movement on August 7, 1905.

Modi said innovative design backed by good marketing is essential to promote handlooms in India and global markets. There is a need to make the handloom tradition fashionable by introducing new designs and colour schemes, he added.

Weavers should constantly evolve, innovate and ensure quality, said the Prime Minister. Fashion and design education also need to be re-oriented and make handlooms the centrepiece of fashion for India and the world, he noted.

The scope of e-commerce should be extended to handloom products. As the market for handlooms is being developed, support should be provided to weavers on the production side, said Modi.