Handloom Day Initiative
The Crafts Council of India salutes the great Indian weaver, with a special initiative to pull them out of the morass of poverty and destitution caused by the Covid pandemic. Yet, despite unsold stocks piling up due to closure of markets and looms falling silent, the weavers’ brilliant talent to create and sell their textiles, each with its own unique resonance, remains undimmed. In one voice their plea is to “help us continue to weave and create, and to sell so that we can live in the dignity we are used to”. CCI’s initiative to mark National Handloom Day (August 7th) this year is to do just that. CCI brings individual handloom weavers into direct connect by providing the buyers with the contact details of the weavers. Photographs of the weavers textiles shared give an idea along with the price range. You are now just a phone call away from the weaver to interact personally, place orders and discuss any further opportunities. This will boost sales for weavers across India, keep them in touch with client preferences and above all, help weavers to get back to their looms and continue to weave the magic of “India’s fabric of pride and history – the timeless handloom”.
Soma Nagendra
Soma Nagendra from Venkatagiri, Nellore Distt, Andhra Pradesh and his family have several years experience in weaving the distinctive #Venkatagiri silk and silk cotton saris, as well as 100 – 120 count fine cotton saris. He has 20 looms on which his weavers worked but the pandemic has drastically brought down sales. Today, when the whole family weaves, “we only earn Rs. 500 – 600 for fine 120 count cottons”. Price range: Rs. 2200 for silk cotton saris, Rs. 18,000 – 19,000 for silk Mangalgiri saris.
Connect directly with weaver Soma Nagendra at Mobile: 9948615954 if interested in his collection.
Yadagiri Gajam
Yadagiri Gajam from Puttapakka, Telangana is a masterweaver in double Ikat Telia rumaal which he learnt from his father. He has reached the height of perfection in weaving Telia rumaal for 22 years. Winner of the National Award (2010), Govt. of India Merit Award (2009), CCI’s ‘Kamala Award’ in 2011. He has given training in double ikat for 20 aspirants at Chinnalapatti, Tamil Nadu. The pandemic hit Puttapakka’s ikat weavers hard. Many of them left their hereditary vocation to find jobs in construction and as security guards.
Connect directly with weaver Gajam Yadagiri at Mobile: 9951891080 if interested in his collection.
Bikash Mahapatra
Bikash Mahapatra from Maniabandha, Odisha has been weaving both single weft cotton and silk for the past 20 years. He lost his father as a toddler of 1 and learnt his weaving skills from his mother and grandfather. Covid times were very bad for him with practically no sales.
Connect directly with weaver Bikash Mahapatra at Mobile +91 96581 85365 if interested in his collection.
Navale Nagaraju
Navale Nagaraju from Narayanpet, Telangana has been a weaver for 25 years. His exceptionally vibrant cotton sari collection is an eyecatcher. Navale Nagaraju is the winner of the state award for best designer. He had absolutely no sale during the Pandemic and has been left with a large stockpile of saris.
Connect directly with weaver Navale Nagaraju at Mobile +91 9182676110 if interested in his collection.
Ajay Kumar Guin
Ajay Kumar Guin from Gopalpur, Odisha comes from a village where the entire population of 2000 families weave ‘jaali’, dolabeda, gheecha and tussar. Ajay also crafts Shibori which he learnt to perfection in 15 days from a visiting Shibori expert. He runs a weaving unit employing 10 – 15 weavers but is often unable to pay them fully due to very meagre sales caused by the Pandemic. Many fellow weavers in Gopalpur suffered hunger during the 2 waves of the Pandemic. He had distributed dry ration packages during the Pandemic.
Connect directly with weaver Ajay Kumar Guin at Mobile 9776922238 if interested in his collection.
Macharla Subbarayadu
Macharla Subbarayadu of Hastinapur, Prakasam district, Andha Pradesh is among the younger breed of Andhra weavers. He weaves striking silk cotton ‘Kuppadam’ saris in jewel tones and rainbow colours with jacquard design, kanchi borders and ‘pallus’. The saris have a scattering of pretty motifs, delicate squares or a plain body set off with striking pallu and border. He has ten looms, with his mother, brother, wife, and sister working on them. Covid lockdowns brought with them total lack of marketing, sales, and orders. State Government assistance in cash to buy raw materials, and help from NGO have been of great help. But poverty still stalks the weaver communities. Price range – Rs.5,800 to Rs.6000.
Connect directly with weaver Macharla Subbarayadu at Mobile 9059950917 if interested in his collection.
R.V. Ramesh
R.V. Ramesh of Hullyagudda, Bagalkot Distt, Karnataka is a diploma holder from Indian Institute of Textiles. His speciality is weaving one of its kind khana weave blouse-textile from Guledgudda. The unique khana weave has the GI tag. Its unique motifs are inspired by folk art and the architecture of the Badami caves. Ramesh is the only weaver of khana blouse-textiles today, where once Hullyagudda had 14,000 looms in 50 homes and a flourishing production of khana weave textiles. Price: Rs. 400 per metre.
Connect directly with weaver R.V. Ramesh at Mobile 9867221542 if interested in his collection.
Lovitoli
Lovitoli from Bunapur, Nagaland : Lovitoli’s entire family does weaving which she learnt in early childhood. Today she runs a home-based unit under the brand name of ‘Lovitwine’. Using traditional weaving techniques she creates traditional textiles, place mats, table runners, cushion covers in pure cotton using azo-free dyed yarn.
Connect directly with weaver Lovitoli at Mobile 8974563908 / 700585012 if interested in her collection.
Biren Kumar Basak
Born in 1951 in Tanghail District of Bangladesh, into a traditional family of ‘taant’ weavers, Biren Kumar Basak and his family migrated in 1962 to Phulia in West Bengal. The family settled down in Phulia and passed through hard times before Biren Kumar opened his own shop and weaving unit in 1987. He became an expert taant weaver ‘or drape of dreams’ right from plucking the cotton bud to weaving some of his finest weaves. Biren Kumar Basak is also credited with initiating the fine cotton jamdaani in Phulia. One of his recent masterpieces is the gossamer muslin jamdaani depicting the narrative of a Santhal festival. All the weavers working under Biren Kumar are experts in their field including 600 women weavers. His core group of specialist weavers live in scattered villages, guarding the secret of their weaves. For magic, after all, must be woven in secret. For his exceptional skills and proficiency in the art of weaving Jamdaani, The Crafts Council of India honoured Biren Kumar Basak with the Shanta Prasad Award for the year 2019.
Connect directly with weaver Biren Kumar Basak at Mobile +91 96091 03106 if interested in his collection.
