Indian Handlooms

'Indian Handlooms', a term that spells exquisity,from Uttar Pradesh, the phenek, tongam and
ebullience and enunciate a multifarious equip ofbottle designs from Assam and Manipur, and lots
excogitating designs, both ethnic and modernistic.more. Indian handloom continues to be craft
Providing livelihood to 90 million people, the level oforiented, even though it was circumscribed by a
artistry and intricacy achieved by Indian handloomlimited choice of processing and technology.
fabrics is unparalleled and beyond the scope ofThe Indian handloom industry mainly exports
modern machinery, preserving its heritage andfabrics, bed spreads and covers, quilts, shams,
culture.pillow covers, curtains, towels, table linen, cushions
With a long tradition of excellence in itsand pads, tapestries and upholsteries, carpets, etc,
craftsmanship, Indian handloom is said to havethe whole lot needed in making a house a
dated back to the ancient ages. The earliest Indianhome.Looking back, the story of the Indian
fragment of cloth (before the Christian era) withhandlooms in the last fifty years is one of patient
a hansa (swan) design was excavated from a sitenurturing of an industry which touches upon the
near Cairo. Later excavations from Harappan siteslivelihood of millions of Indians.
revealed a scrap of coarse madder dyed clothLittle efforts were given to develop the Indian
and a terracotta spindle whorls which evidencedhandloom sector during the first half of the
their expertise over handlooms, Indian handlooms,present industry. The handloom weavers were
to be more specific.pitted against modern textile mills. Their ingenuity
The turning point of Indian handlooms and itsand skill contributed to their success in preserving
weavers is said to be India’s independence i.e.the long tradition of excellence of Indian
15th of august, 1947. The Charkha acted as ahandlooms.And in today's date Indian handlooms
symbol of national regeneration, as propagated byare going global in a big way and have found
Mahatma Gandhi, and the focus on the weaverssupport in the designer community. "Handlooms
of Indian handlooms during the Indian freedomrepresent not just an industry but the cultural
movement was largely responsible for theheritage of India. It needs to chart out a road
breakthrough. And at the dawn of independence,map for itself. Designers can play a major role in
Indian handloom industry became the largestpromoting handlooms. However, so far we have
cottage industry of the country, a point ofnot been able to utilize our own resources to
recognition which is still maintained.cope up with the changing lifestyles and
Indian handlooms cater to the needs of a diverseaspirations.
cultural ethos ranging from exquisite fabrics toThe handloom industry and the fashion designers
popular items of mass production for daily use. Ashould work in coordination to initiate yet another
village without a weaver is a myth in the Indian'swadeshi' movement," Rathi Vinay Jha said at the
scenario; millions of looms across the country areWills Lifestyle India Fashion Week held in the
busy producing the traditional beauty of a preciouscapital recently. A rich and resilient media of ethnic
heritage called Indian handlooms.expression, Indian handloom is given is due
Undoubtedly cotton gave the splendid weavers ofrespect by the government too.
Indian handloom their resplendent expression butNational awards are given every year to master
silk and woolen cloths also originated during theweavers in recognition of their excellence and
pre-Vedic era, endemic to India. In the world ofcontribution. An expression which deserves to be
handlooms there are muslin of Chanderi, silkrespected and preserved, Indian handlooms has
brocades of Varanasi, the ikats from Andhra andbeen subsumed into the national and ethnic design
Orissa, the tie and dye from Rajasthan andvocabularies of the world.
Gujrat, the phulkari and khes of Punjab, jacquards