FLO Ahmedabad, under the leadership of Chairperson Madhu Banthia, celebrated World Handloom Day at Lithosphere by Upper Crust to recognize and support women handloom artisans. The event was hosted by FLO member Monisha D’Souza and moderated by Aparna Patel, Textile Co-Lead. As part of the Textile, Handloom & Handicraft initiative, the event focused on empowering artisans by providing market access for their homegrown crafts and enabling them to thrive in the modern market.
These artisans are responsible for preserving the Indian handloom heritage. Speakers: Dr. Shubhangi Yadav, Professor, NIFT, Rupali Pandit, Professor, NIFT, Chaman Bhai, Master Weaver of Handlooms, Kutch, and Shamin Bhai, Raffugarh Artisan, graced the event with their presence and supported weavers who are the true keepers of heritage.
Event Highlights
1. Immersive exploration of Ikkat weaving: its history, cultural roots, and global adaptations.
2. Focus on Ikkat in India (Gujarat – Patolas, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra) and its unique names and motifs across regions.
3. Understanding the warp-weft technique, the beauty of its “blurry” patterns, and the painstaking process of dyeing and weaving.
4. Chaman Bhai shared insights into the essence of khadi and handlooms, from cotton plants to yarns.
5. Shamin Bhai showcased the intricate Raffugarh art (darning through hand — so that torn garments don’t have to be discarded but mended and restored to look as good as new).
Key Objectives
1. Reviving Ikkat as an accessible, contemporary fashion choice.
2. Encouraging design infusion to make traditional weaves relevant to younger generations.
3. Drawing inspiration from global brands like Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta, who are incorporating Ikkat into modern silhouettes.
4. Promoting innovation while staying rooted in India’s rich handloom heritage.
FLO Ahmedabad brought the magic of timeless handlooms with this event. World Handloom Day celebration focused on preserving India’s heritage. This event is a part of FLO Ahmedabad’s efforts towards positioning ‘Made in India’ crafts as premium and globally desirable products.