National Handloom Day

The handloom industry is one of the most important symbols of the cultural heritage of India. But beyond that, it is also a major source of livelihood of the weaver community employed in weaving handloom products. It is estimated that 70% of these weavers are women, and that is why this industry continues to be a major source of income and plays a big part in uplifting the traditional artisans.

A woman weaver working on a handloom

The National Handloom Day is celebrated each year in India since 2015 on the 7th of August to highlight and celebrate the contributions of the handloom community. By celebrating this day, the aim is to create awareness about the traditional art of weaving, reviving dying weaving techniques and designs, and to bring to the forefront the challenges faced by the weaving community.

It is interesting to note that the date to celebrate the National Handloom Day was taken so that it coincides with the ‘Swadeshi Movement’ undertaken by Indians in the year 1905.

This year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the weavers and their families have faced extreme hardships to sustain their livelihood. During the national lockdown in India in April, Shobitam played a humble part in touching the lives of some of our weavers through our partners in India, and we continue to support them by providing them an opportunity to do business with us when many others have closed their shops. We are committed to our motto to help people look good, feel good, and do good.

This National Handloom Day, let’s all do our bit to provide support from across the globe to these skilled indigenous handloom weavers, who play a crucial role in keeping alive the millennia-old weaving traditions that have enthralled one and all from time immemorial.

A handloom weaver while working on his loom to create an Ikkat saree.

Team Shobitam