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How the government is reviving the handloom industry

The Central government plans to set up 10 design resource centres across the country

The design resource centres are being set up by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at weavers' service centres (WSCs) of Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kannur, Indore, Nagpur, Meerut, Bhagalpur and Panipat
The design resource centres are being set up by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at weavers' service centres (WSCs) of Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kannur, Indore, Nagpur, Meerut, Bhagalpur and Panipat (Unsplash)

To promote and revive handlooms in a big way, the Central government will set up 10 more handloom design resource centres across the country.

According to a release by the ministry of textiles, 10 more design resource centres, or DRCs, are in the process of being set up by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at weavers' service centres (WSCs) of Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kannur, Indore, Nagpur, Meerut, Bhagalpur and Panipat, reports ANI.

Textiles are the symbols of our rich and varied heritage. From the vibrant colours of the Rajasthani bandhej to the intricate embroideries of Kashmir, from the bright patolas of Gujarat to the glamour of the eternal Kanjeevarams of Tamil Nadu, Indian textiles are a palimpsest of our great civilisation.

Also read: Revive the weave on National Handloom Day

The antecedents of our textile heritage can be traced to a multitude of sources. The earliest forms of textiles that were found at the Indus Valley indicate a most advanced culture of textile usage in what has long been called the cradle of human civilisation.

These centres are being set up with the objective to build and create design-oriented excellence in the handloom sector and to facilitate weavers, exporters, manufacturers and designers access design repositories for the sample and product improvisation and development.

The ministry has roped in NIFT keeping in view the fact that it is an in-house organisation of the ministry of textiles, of which handloom also is a part, and also the expertise of NIFT in fashion and design trends that can be utilised by handloom sector for greater market linkage.

DRCs are being established by NIFT in all WSCs in a phased manner, wherein a vast inventory of designs and resources will be available for use by exporters, manufacturers, designers, weavers and other stakeholders.

DRCs have been set up and inaugurated in WSCs of Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Jaipur and Varanasi. The eighth DRC at Kancheepuram was inaugurated by the Minister of Textiles on National Handloom Day on 7 August.

The move comes at a critical time. Many of India's textiles are enjoying a revival of sorts not witnessed since the early rushes of independence. It is clearly no longer fashionable to remain ignorant of Indian textiles at soirees and galas, fashion weeks and weddings.

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