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Art & Culture
August 6, 2023

Why to chose Handloom, a thought before National Handloom Day

Anushree Dash
Why to chose Handloom, a thought before National Handloom Day

Photo by Akhil Pawar on Unsplash

Clothing may be a basic need for human beings, but in the midst of a fast fashion culture, the industry has come to display serious consequences for the population and the planet…
 
Do you ask these questions before experimenting with fashion:
  • From where your outfits comes from?
  • How much of the garments’ price make it to the artisans?
  • And, what happens to discarded clothes?
 
For most of these questions, the solution will be “Sustainability”
 
The word sustainability has various meanings. One of the meaning is the ‘ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level’ and the other meaning states ‘the pursuit of global environment sustainability’. While talking about the fashion and textile industry both interpretations are valid and extremely important.
 
As sustainable fashion offers a way out of the dilemma, offering clothing that is kind on our skin as much as the environment. The business side leads to the growth of the industry and the environmental side is important for our overall survival. Nevertheless, the aura and the comfort that the handloom offer are incomparable. Dressed in elegance, a lady can carry these hand woven creations in their regular chores, and as well as look good at parties.
Such is the magic of these skilled creations.
 
 
 
 
And, the best part of such creations is the immense contribution of the laid back, poor class of the country. Right from spinning the yarn, colouring, to weaving on the loom is done by these skilled artisans. Their skills get a chance to come out in the public eye, and in turn, they get paid. Being largely household based, it has the contribution of the entire family, and hence comes second after agriculture in framing the economic condition of the country.
 
The handloom drapes are becoming increasingly popular in the country. And, why not?
From simple plain fabrics, Tribal motifs, geometric designs, tye and dye, to exhaustive art on muslin. If you are an ardent lover of six yards, then you must be having almost all types of sarees in your wardrobe. It in a way appreciates their craftsmanship and also takes a step forward to diminish poverty from the country.
 
Why Handloom ? (Do you really need it now?)
 
1. Because it is eco-friendly and naturally made:
 
Handloom sarees are completely made from 100% natural fibres, and this can be counted as the prime reason for choosing handlooms instead of other materials. Starting from the manufacturing of the drapes to the production of it, everything involves natural fibres. So, the Sambalpuri or the Patolas or the Chanderis that you see in the showrooms are actually made from the pure silk or cotton or Khadi or Jute. The tools required for this entire process are made from wood, sometimes bamboo. Thus this is the most eco-friendly way of producing cloths.
So, who would mind wearing eco-friendly clothing?
 
 
2. Because it displays the vastness of Indian Culture:
 
Indian Handloom dates back to the Indus valley civilization. The Indian handloom industry doesn’t fail to uplift the artistry of weavers, and also shows the rich and diverse Indian Culture. Every state of the country has a different artwork to boast, and so does their weavers. A weaver from Bihar would do an excellent Madhubani art in the six yards, a weaver from Bengal will create magic in Jamdani while the weavers from down South would do excellent work on Kanchipuram. With unique painting, needlework and weaving design. No other country can boast of such exclusive wide range of rich textile art, even today.
 
3.Because it supports livelihood:
 
As already we discussed before, handlooms are giving financial help to the poor and in a support economy of entire country. More than 4.3 million workers have been working in this genre. So when you buy handcrafted pieces, you are in a way boosting their livelihood. Doesn’t it give you a nice feeling, deep down?
 
4.Because every piece is unique:
 
No two fabrics can be alike. Since the workers take the initiative of doing every saree in a unique way, therefore every six yard comes out to be something different from the rest. Starting from the fabric to the colour, it is unique, distinct and highly appreciable.
every handcrafted piece is different from the other, and it is worth having every single piece.
 
5.Because it has no chemical induced dyes:
 
Using anything chemical on your body can be harmful; you might not have thought about it, but, the chemicals or the dyes induced in the sarees you wear might be damaging your skin. It can be a slow process, but who knows where it will end? Why take a risk? Rather choose from the wide options of handloom drapes, which will be vibrant and perfect for your skin.
 
Food for thought :
 
Green is the new trend and handloom sarees fit the trend perfectly. So what makes you wait?
Start adding them to your cart! Handloom is sustaining design imitations from power looms, cheap import.
Let us save this timeless tradition. Support Handloom!

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About the Author

Anushree Dash

Gender Equality Advocate, TEDx Speaker, Social Reformer, Sociopreneur, Human Rights Activist, Pad woman of Odisha , Writer, Motivational Speaker, Art connoisseur... An impenitent, non-conformist, adventurous, boho soul and an admirer of life. Loves my Indian read more...

24 Posts | 84,304 Views

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Feminist
April 23, 2024

There Is A Prachi In All Of Us! Why, As A Society, Can’t We Look Beyond Appearance?

UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.

Anjali Paul

Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.

While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.

Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.

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