handloom weavers

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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