Dhaagon Ki Sargam: Nine Designers Celebrate India’s Handloom Heritage

New Delhi came alive with the artistry of Indian textiles as “Dhaagon Ki Sargam” brought nine designers together to celebrate National Handloom Day. Presented by the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, in association with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the showcase placed India’s extraordinary handloom traditions at the heart of contemporary fashion.

L-R- Dr. M. Beena, IAS, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Shri Pabitra Margherita, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs & Textiles, Government of India., Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Government of India, Mr Sunil Sethi Chairman Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI)

L-R- Prashant Singh Chauhan, Sanjukta Dutta, Payal Jain, Madhu Jain, Gaurav Jai Gupta , Gautam Gupta, Asha Gupta

Curated by FDCI, the showcase offered an intimate look at the country’s textile vocabulary through nine distinct design perspectives. Each designer worked with a signature handloom tradition, bringing the character of Indian weaving into a fashion-led setting that felt relevant, refined, and deeply rooted in craft.

AKAARO

Amit Aggarwal,

Madhu Jain,

The participating designers were AKAARO, Amit Aggarwal, Madhu Jain, Samant Chauhan, Asha Gautam, 11.11, Payal Jain, Shruti Sancheti, and Sanjukta Dutta. Their presentations explored a remarkable range of Indian textiles and techniques: AKAARO worked with metallic textiles; Amit Aggarwal presented a Banarasi gown; Madhu Jain showcased Ikat; Samant Chauhan highlighted Bhagalpur Silk; Asha Gautam celebrated Patola; 11.11 focused on Indigo; Payal Jain explored white-on-white craftsmanship; Shruti Sancheti presented Khadi; and Sanjukta Dutta brought the traditional Mekhela Chador into the spotlight.

Samant Chauhan,

Asha Gautam

11.11

Payal Jain

Shruti Sancheti,

Sanjukta Dutta

Together, the designers offered a compelling portrait of India’s handloom heritage, drawing attention to the skill, patience, and cultural knowledge held within its weaving communities. The showcase also reflected the growing place of handloom in contemporary Indian fashion, where traditional textiles continue to inspire new silhouettes, techniques, and design narratives.

The evening was inaugurated by Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Government of India, and Shri Pabitra Margherita, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs & Textiles, Government of India. The gathering brought together Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles; Dr. M. Beena, IAS, Development Commissioner (Handlooms); Ms. Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts); Ms. Tanu Kashyap, IAS, Director General, NIFT; Smt. Arti Kanwar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles; Smt. Padmini Singla, Joint Secretary (Fibre), Ministry of Textiles; members of the fashion fraternity, and distinguished guests.

Adding to the cultural atmosphere, the evening featured a dance performance by Suhail Bhan, followed by a musical performance by Raja Kumari.

For National Handloom Day, “Dhaagon Ki Sargam” offered a thoughtful reminder of the extraordinary textile heritage woven across India. Through the vision of nine designers, handloom found a fresh fashion context while retaining the artistry and identity that make each Indian textile tradition distinctive.