Weaving the Beauty of our Past into the Future
By –Suren Chowdhary
Co-Founder, Inde’ Loom
Indian weavers, our skilled craftsmen who have been weaving magic for generations by creating the most beautiful and exotic art. They keep our rich heritage, and diverse culture alive through the unparalleled quality of their craft. From Jamdani, Batik, Bhujodi Weaves, to Kantha Embroidery, Ajrakh, Daboo, Pashmina, Aari, Kani, and Phulkari, India is said to have over 120 distinct weaves that can be woven on literally any fabric without compromising on quality. Yet, these very talented artisans who bring a ray of happiness and hope with their aesthetic and magical work have been in a sorrowful state for the longest time. It is hard to believe but 60+ national award-winning artisans creating indigenous textiles are on the verge of extinction or migration. Due to less recognition, exploitation, and less payment output in their profession they are being pushed out of their livelihood.
But there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Soon enough a large number of brands and designers realized the dire situation of our artisans dwelling in the rural hinterlands of India and created a mandate to improve their lives. Their philosophy revolved around promoting a slow and sustainable fashion enterprise which supports fair trade. The larger vision, however, lies in cross-training, up-skill, and getting the weavers to utilize various government schemes which they are not aware of. Therefore, brands not only collaborated with them to revive dying heirloom techniques but also educated/ trained these artisans to make better marketable products for women shoppers across the globe. This went a long way in supporting the future generations who were now inclined on getting behind the art and craft of weaving. Along with that brands ensured that every product is being created through a zero-carbon waste production process that will be traceable and sustainable thereby reducing their product’s impact on the environment. This includes aspects like- creating designs that conserve fewer resources, using natural colours for dyeing clothes and maintaining a recycling unit in the supply chain.
It is all about having a foresighted approach to secure our future. The life and craft of these artisans are not just supposed to be measured in yards and meters, the focus should be on being an incredible representation of all these outstanding weavers that have always had the power to clothe the world. Today, tomorrow and in the future!
