Textiles Ministry to Celebrate Int’l Women’s Day by Organising Week-Long Programme at Handloom Haat

In celebration of India's 75th year of independence, 75 stalls will be set up by women handloom weavers, crafters, entrepreneurs, and designers. Many of these are master craftspeople, national awardees, and organisations founded or led by women.

Circularity in textiles aims to transform the linear value chain of take-make-dispose into a circular system in which value is retained for a longer period of time. Circularity in fashion emphasizes a significant gender narrative by placing women at the centre of the transformation.

To recognize and motivate such change agents across the value chain, a special emphasis is placed on circular strategies, processes, and end products that go beyond the traditional linear model and focus on extending product life. Invitees are women-founded/led organizations focused on reducing waste in the value chain through various circular strategies such as recycle, repair, reuse/remanufacture, rental, and resale.

With these strategies in place, these women are leading the charge to reduce the load on landfills while also generating value out of waste. Similarly, sustainability is a vital aspect in the current context, particularly in light of SDG obligations/commitments.

Handloom and handicraft are traditionally the most sustainable sectors on all fronts, such as self-employment for women, natural local raw materials, natural dyes, recycled materials, and so on, creating harmony between all the aspects in the ecosystem.

Other Major Attractions:

• Visitors would be able to purchase genuine handloom and handicraft items directly from weavers and artisans.

• Sale of handcrafted items including Jewellery, Kalmkari, KolhapuriChappals, Handbags, Clutches, Fashion accessories, Lac Bangles, Cane & Bamboo items, Terracotta, Zari &Zardozi, Embroidery & Crochet, including Phulkari, Jute articles.

• Sale of famous weaves and handcrafted saris/fabric including Chanderi (Maheshwari), Paithani, Kanchipuram Saris, LucknowiChikankari, Kota Doria. Chikankari, Bagru/Sanganer Block Print, Tie & Dye.

• Live Demonstration and Activity Corner – Handloom weaving, Lac Bangle making, Potter’s wheel etc.

• Workshops on sustainability; weaver connect with designers; product diversification.

• Corner/disseminating information about benefits available to handloom weavers and craft people, such as credit and insurance.

• Cultural Programmes/Live performances by women folk, tribal dancers and musicians. Traditional puppetry (Kathputli) display.

• Traditional cuisine and flavours.

There are unorganised sectors in the handicrafts and handloom sectors that employ approximately 65 lakh artisans and weavers across the country, including 25.46 lakh women in the handloom sector and 20 lakh women in the handicraft sector.

Individuals in the Handicraft and Handloom sector who practise a specific craft are issued a Pehchan Identity card. To date, 20 women artisans have received the Shilp Guru award, and 181 women artisans have received the National award. Every year, 5 National Handicraft Awards are given exclusively to women artisans.

Six women weavers have received the Sant Kabir Award, and 73 women weavers have received the National Award. The Kamladevi Chattopadhyay awards are only given to women weavers.