Can the handloom weavers of India survive amid all the automation?

As Rajesh, a weaver from Paithan, looks at his dusty handloom (with orders drying up during the pandemic) he wonders whether he should move to a power loom or stick to his family tradition of churning out the most delicate handwoven Paithani designs…something he grew up learning from his grandfather.

But Rajesh is not the only one facing this dilemma. He is part of a fraternity of over 32 lakh handloom weavers across the country…87% of them in the rural areas…72% of them women.

The increased use of power looms and digital prints is posing a real threat to the survival of this traditional artform.

This is primarily because the process of handloom manufacturing is comparatively more expensive and time consuming.

Also, with consumers preferring to change their wardrobes more frequently, it is difficult for handlooms to keep pace with the changing trends

There is a silver lining though….an increasing number of conscious consumers who are uncompromising on the feel and the intricate designs that can come only out of handlooms…. for instance, the handwoven Bhujodi (a small town located close to Bhuj) blankets.

There are certain measures that can immensely benefit the sector :

1. Access to the weavers - My own experience with contacting Paithani weavers (based out of Yeola and Paithan) has taught me that reaching these weaver clusters is not as easy as picking up the phone and dialling a number. Readily available information with contact numbers/addresses of cluster representatives / development officers could go a long way in improving the accessibility of the weavers

2. Training programs for weavers - While the government already runs upskilling programs for various clusters, a lot more needs to be done for imparting basic market understanding to the weavers so that they are able to get a fair price for their work

3. A dedicated marketplace - A marketplace bringing all the weaver clusters under one roof and promoting their skills (that have been preserved from generations) and the exemplary designs can increase the awareness both in the international and domestic markets

Author – Aditya Shaligram (Cofounder/Partner SMBNEXT Pvt. Ltd.) (Dedicated to handloom weavers of India)

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