National Handloom Day 2024: A Celebration of India’s Diverse Textile Art & Heritage

National Handloom Day was instituted on August 7, 2015, by our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to celebrate the Indian handloom industry, an important part of the country’s cultural heritage. It is a day to recognise different forms of textile crafts inherited from generations of immensely talented weavers and emphasise the importance of indigenous fabrics in representing India. Therefore, in honour of National Handloom Day on August 7, 2024, people can embrace the rich art of handloom fabrics from various states and promote the welfare of the weavers in several regions.

National Handloom Day is observed to mark the start of the Swadeshi Movement in India in 1905 with the aim of restarting local procurement and utilisation of Indian craftsmanship to counter imports from Britain. To further strengthen the Indian handloom industry, the Government of India launched National Handloom Day on August 7, 2015, to promote sustainable handloom practices, create a sustainable livelihood for the weavers and contribute to the ‘Make in India’ campaign. On August 7, 2024, National Handloom Day makes it incumbent upon us to think about the artisans and weavers of the nation and their craft, which is more representative of India’s pluralism.

Handloom is constitutively and fundamentally the social and economic canvas of India, with more than 35 lakh registered handlooms powering employment in the rural and semi-urban populace. Apart from its commercial viability, the handloom is an environmentally sustainable textile production technique involving more than 200 weaving techniques, part of a generational heritage. Endearing forms of apparel such as Banarasi, Chanderi and Khadi represent the fabric of India’s regionalism. Also, weaving incorporates people from different communities. Thus, the designers, dyers and spinners work together, proving sustainable fashion from India and multiculturalism.

On National Handloom Day 2024, the Government of India reaffirms its promises towards the policies and programmes being implemented to protect and promote the handloom industry, which is a part of the country’s culture and provides employment opportunities to the people. Government policies like the National Handloom Development Programme, the Handloom Census Drive, the Health Insurance scheme for weavers and the Handloom Weaver’s Loan Waiver Scheme are expected to organise the marginalised handloom clusters across the country.

The year 2024 also marks the launch of additional programmes relating to design aesthetics, GI-tagged indigenous crafts and skill-building workshops for competitiveness enhancement.

National Handloom Day recognises India as the embodiment of unity in diversity. There are many fascinating stories behind heirloom weaves, such as Muga of Assam, famed for its utility and sheen; Mekhela Chador, which embodies the sanctity of marriage with its red border; Phulkari of Punjab, an elaborate and colourful embroidery that conveys messages to the family, etc. National Handloom Day 2024 showcases India’s diverse weaving practices, incorporating sustainable procedures and the narratives in which weavers express their feelings, expectations and connectivity to their roots. Therefore, reflecting its social fabric perspective, handloom ties different states together as communities.

Indiahandmade is an initiative of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Unlike many commercial platforms, Indiahandmade focuses on direct participation by artisans and weavers, eliminating intermediaries. This direct approach helps ensure fair pricing and authentic products. The platform offers various handmade products, including handicrafts and handloom items, all sold directly from artisans to customers across India. This ensures that consumers receive authentic and high-quality products.

By providing artisans and weavers with a direct selling platform, Indiahandmade empowers them economically and ensures they receive a fair share of the profits. The online platform offers individualised assistance to sellers throughout the process, from onboarding and registration to product uploading, updating, order fulfilment and handling returns and replacements.

Moreover, the Indiahandmade team provides regular training sessions to sellers, ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge for smooth operations. This ongoing support helps artisans stay updated with best practices and enhances their ability to manage their online presence effectively.

National Handloom Day 2024 aims to protect this priceless ware that brings the past of India and the future visions together. On the upcoming National Handloom Day, we can look into the narratives and histories behind these stories of heirloom weaves and take note of the policies and online platforms that have helped in building the ecosystem for these excluded weavers.

Being citizens as well as consumers, we can also help preserve this sustainable craft. All these activities reach consumer awareness through consumer advocacy and community participation, which in turn strengthens the handloom sector, embodying the spirit of inclusive development.