Hand-Loom Fabric from India

Fabric is made of natural (cotton, silk, linen, wool, etc.) and man-made fibers (synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, georgette, etc.). Traditionally, widely used fabrics were natural (leather and grass was also used for covering bodies) and were made by hand. There are different techniques used to make these fabrics, widely used techniques were weaving, knitting, crochet, interlacing and many more.

Hand weaving was one of the most widely used techniques to make fabric in India for many centuries. From cotton growing to spinning the yarn to weaving a final product (saree, women’s draped garment and dhoti, men’s draped garment) was carried out each village to clothe the entire village. The weavers were part of the community and the transaction between the consumer and producer was very close and this was the critical link for designing and producing the goods for the market place for many years. This has changed in the last three decades in India where the products made by local weavers were replaced by mill made products, which are much cheaper than hand woven products for many reasons.

DA is a purpose driven organization working with the handloom industry and for the weavers who have marginal local market and are dependant on distant markets for continuation of the rural livelihood. DA works with different issues of the industry like policy & advocacy, technology, design and marketing. Marketing is one of the most visible activities of the organization.

Marketing of handlooms in distant markets is one of the key strengths of DA. DA is selling handloom fabrics in different market channels – domestic retailers, exhibitions, direct sales, home selling network and exports. DA’s main intervention is in translating market information and designing products to suit different markets. Organizing production and working a system to service the market is another intervention by DA.

Recognition for hand made process – Weaving mills are producing fabrics for western market. Weaving mills have designed their technology of making fabric copying the hand weaving technique. Layman would not be able to make out whether the fabric is made of hand or machine. 

Value for hand made process – The aesthetic and quality of the handloom fabric could easily meet the existing mill woven fabric parameters. In fact, except for the price point (which is not much more, handloom fabric is only 30% more expensive than mill woven fabric) one cannot make the distinction. But the value for the process is more in the following facts:

1)      Low investment in terms of infrastructure – A weaver needs Rs. 10,000/- (U$ 225) to buy a loom, which can fetch him, Rs. 4,500/- (U$ 100) per month as income.

2)      Its decentralized activity which gives equity and dignity to his work

3)      It is second largest rural livelihood which lets people to stay in the villages and not flood our cities and maintains rural economy

4)      It does not require power (electricity) and is eco-friendly in nature.

5)      Fabric woven on the loom is durable, better in texture and stronger than mill fabric.