handloom weavers
Check out Sarakapatna’s vibrant ‘Hastatanta’ sarees
Sarakapatna in Odisha is the home of 'Hastatanta' sarees that weave a tapestry of beauty and tradition. The rhythmic clatter of tanta (looms) echoes in every household, a testament to the enduring artistry of this captivating craft.
The warm homespun blanket of Gaddi tribe is going cold
The small Gaddi tribe’s tradition of handloom weaving is slowly disappearing from Himachal Pradesh as fewer people are interested in the laborious process.
Climate change looms over Udupi sarees
The production of Karnataka's acclaimed Udupi sarees has been impacted by climate change. Weavers complain about the rice gruel starch, an important ingredient of production, drying up too quickly as the temperatures soar in Dakshina Kannada district.
Karnataka weavers of Udupi sarees face heat over heatwaves
Climate change is adversely impacting weavers of the globally acclaimed sarees as the starch they use is drying up too quickly due to rising temperatures.
Designers ensure physical and financial health of handloom weavers
Fashion designers working with handloom artisans ensure that their financial needs are met despite lack of work during lockdown, and keep their morale high by being in touch
Handcrafted Baluchari sarees see festive resurgence
The exquisitely handcrafted Baluchari sarees of Bengal have made a welcome comeback. Once forced into menial jobs, Baluchari weavers are busy again because demand is increasing
Are handlooms in rural India only capable of weaving poverty?
We need to reflect why once handlooms wove joy, culture and incomes but today weave only poverty, unable to sustain livelihoods of people in our villages, except for a few outliers
Bengal’s weavers revive muslin, spin success
The revival of muslin, a fine cotton cloth famous for centuries, has infused financial stability into the lives of traditional spinners and weavers of West Bengal who were struggling for survival earlier
Kuthampully weavers facing decline in Kerala
For centuries, they have created Kerala's classic off-white and gold sarees and veshtis. Now, low incomes, an ageing workforce, shifting demand and power looms are forcing changes in this traditional occupation
Traditional handloom weaves a comeback in Kachchh
The remarkable revival of traditional Kachchhi handloom by the vankar community could serve as a shining example of how India could tackle its severe livelihood, ecological and cultural crises
Weavers of Negamam face social, economic challenges
The traditional handloom weavers of the famous Negamam cotton sarees in Tamil Nadu are dwindling in number as they battle changing social norms and economic challenges from cheaper products