Upgrade brand value of handlooms: Samana

Vijayawada: Students of city-based Samana College of Design Studies on Saturday spent some time with the weavers to show their solidarity and also learn the intricacies of weaving from them. The interactive event was to highlight the brand value of Indian handlooms which were losing its sheen.

"SCDS has been constantly a step ahead when it comes to weavers and handlooms. They are close to our heart," said Samana Hussaini, the chairperson of the college. She said SCDS had conducted numerous events to exhibit its concern on the vanishing asset of India - the handlooms.

"Advancement in technology has brought changes in the textile sector. But we should give up our traditional textiles which are eco-friendly." She said when Italy-based NABA University's department heads of fashion designing visited the looms in Mangalagiri and Pedana, they expressed their concern at the pathetic conditions of the weavers.

"But at the same time, they were awestruck at the rich artistic tradition followed by the skilled artisans. They felt that the Indian looms were not given due respect in terms of commerce".

The weavers, chairperson of college, SCDS designers and faculty gathered and expressed their emotions through placards, speeches, displays, and ramp walk. Samana said that India has a legacy in handlooms, but they were shrinking because of the absence of aid and strategies from the rulers.

After agriculture, it is the handloom which can employ the most significant number of people," Samana said. She said the government should create a platform wherein both the weavers and designers can work and contribute to local as well as the international markets.

Samana said that there was a new breed of designers who were experimenting with handlooms ensuring the weavers to remain in business. "Though the government is taking various measures for the revival of handloom industry we are still a long way to go," she said.