Crafting a brighter future
Five veterans talk about the relevance of textiles in a country soaked in tradition
New Delhi, To mark Handloom Day on August 7, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) on behalf of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, organised a Handloom Symposium on August 7, at the Crafts Museum, Pragati Maidan in the capital.
The esteemed panelists included the doyen of the style world, Ritu Kumar, sari historian Rta Kapur Chishti, designers David Abraham and Madhu Jain and master-printer Ramkishore Chippa Derawala, who discussed the topic ‘Can our Handloom Heritage of the Past be a Springboard to the Future?’ The panel agreed, inventive designs, increase usage of natural fibres and updating the handloom sector as well as offering financial support and infrastructure, was the need of the hour.
“We have a 2,000-year-old legacy of handlooms and this sector employs over 43 lakh people. It is a revenue-driver that needs to be nurtured and resuscitated and on Handloom day, we collectively pledge to replenish the loom. We support the Minister of Textiles, Smt Smriti Irani and the office of DC(Handlooms) in their mission to take handlooms global and make it a lighthouse for New India,” said FDCI Chairman Sunil Sethi.