By ASHU SATVIKA GOYAL
DEHRADUN, 4 Jul: The first day of the two-day event, The Loom Collective, presented by Ariyana Creations in collaboration with FICCI FLO Uttarakhand, was held at Address One, Malsi, Dehradun. The event brought together artisans, designers, policymakers and textile enthusiasts to celebrate India’s rich handloom heritage while exploring ways to preserve and promote the country’s traditional textile crafts.
The event was graced by chief guest Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Member of Parliament and social worker. A panel discussion, moderated by Anurag Chauhan, Founder of Humans for Humanity, featured Kunwarani Kamini Singh of Seohara, a revivalist of the Gota Patti craft; Poonam Bhagat, Founder and Creative Head of TAIKA; Anshu Khanna, Founder of Royal Fables; Dr Niharika Singh, Textile Designer and Sustainability Advocate; and Pradeep Kumar, Director, Directorate of Sericulture, Uttarakhand.
The discussion focused on the challenges confronting India’s handloom sector, particularly limited market access and the lack of meaningful collaboration between designers and artisans. The panellists observed that while artisans possess exceptional craftsmanship, limited opportunities to work with designers often restrict innovation. They emphasized that blending authentic handwoven textiles with contemporary designs can enhance their appeal to modern consumers while preserving their traditional identity.
Sharing her experience, Poonam Bhagat said that although her creations had been appreciated internationally, what touched her most was being introduced as an “Indian designer.” She remarked that India’s unmatched textile heritage deserves greater recognition and promotion across global markets.
The panel also highlighted the significance of authentic handloom fabrics, including Khadi, Chanderi, Maheshwari, Banarasi, Jamdani, Ikat, Pochampally, Kanjeevaram, Kota Doria, Tussar, Muga and Eri silk, as well as handwoven linen. The speakers noted that these textiles command higher prices because they are painstakingly handcrafted over several days, reflecting generations of skill, labour and cultural heritage. Consumers were encouraged to appreciate the value behind every handcrafted product.
During the interactive session, Pradeep Kumar highlighted the government’s continued efforts to strengthen the handloom ecosystem through artisan training, design development, exhibitions, market linkages and promotional initiatives aimed at preserving traditional crafts while improving artisans’ livelihoods.
The event also featured stalls showcasing handloom sarees, handcrafted suits, hand-embroidered apparel, hand-painted ceramics, jewellery, traditional food products and other handmade creations. Visitors witnessed live demonstrations of silk shawl weaving on a traditional wooden loom and intricate hand embroidery techniques.
The day concluded with a heritage saree showcase choreographed by Ritu Gautam, featuring women draped in authentic handloom sarees representing different regions of India. The event was supported by Mirasa as the Event Partner, The Shawl Story and Sari-Thon as Support Partners, while I Am Design served as the Creative Design Partner.
