National Handloom Day 2023: Why choose handloom clothes

Since 2015, National Handloom Day is observed on 7th August every year with the aim of encouraging artisans and craftsmen, who are keeping India’s rich tradition of artistry and craftsmanship alive. Dating back to 1905, the Swadeshi Movement was launched on 7th August, which had encouraged indigenous industries, particularly handloom weavers.

This year marks the 9th National Handloom Day celebration which is done to to preserve & promote India’s handloom heritage and empower the weavers. On this occasion Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an e-portal titled ‘Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh’ on Monday in Delhi. This is a repository of textiles and crafts developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Handloom and khadi weavers, artisans and stakeholders from the textile & MSME sectors graced the launch.

On National Handloom Day 2023, The CSR Journal suggests the benefits of choosing handloom clothes in our everyday life.

Organic and skin friendly

Handloom clothes are made of pure organic materials without any form of pollutants or chemicals, hence they do not cause any kind of irritation or allergy to the skin. So they are skin friendly.

Handloom cloth is knitted in a way which let’s your skin breathe and makes you feel comfortable. It can be worn throughout the year across all seasons be it scorching summer, rainy monsoon or chilly winter and is a popular choice especially for formal clothing.

Durable and pocket-friendly

Handloom clothes are durable and last for many years. They can be worn repeatedly without colour fading or looking worn out. Also, they are not very expensive and hence easy on the pocket. Since handloom clothes are designed with a lot of colours and different styles, these are popular among many people and can be gifted to your near and dear ones irrespective of age or gender.

Eco-friendly

Being made of organic materials, handloom clothes are eco-friendly and biodegradable, which is very much the need of the hour in the present day, where global warming, pollution and energy crisis are a serious threat. Also, handloom cloth is made without using electricity or emissions. The handloom industry is a perfect example of sustainable production. The entire handloom process in each and every step is sustainable— right from installation to the fabric, to the process of dyeing and weaving. Natural fibres used in handloom are biodegradable and leaves minimal carbon footprint hence does not harm our environment.

Support our weavers

Handloom is an ancient skill that has been passed down generation after generation. Some of the most beautiful one-of-a-kind textiles made with handloom cannot be recreated by machine. However, this art is struggling to survive in the present day as a lot of youngsters, mostly from the families of weavers are refusing to take this up as a profession due to the poor financial condition of the existing weavers. A lot of handloom weavers in India lead a life of poverty. By buying handloom clothes, we can revive handloom and support these weavers. It is time to support India’s handloom weavers and put a smile on their faces too!

Ahana Bhattacharya can be reached at [email protected]