National Handloom Day: A pillar of cultural diversity and economic activity

The handloom sector in India is one of the country's largest unorganized economic activities. Every year on August 7th, National Handloom Day is celebrated to honour the rich tradition of handloom weaving.

This observance began in 2015, marking the centenary of the Swadeshi Movement, which started on August 7, 1905.

Theme of this year 'Handloom Day'

The theme for National Handloom day 2024 is 'weaving Sustainable Future' and revolves around the importance of sustainable fashion and eco- friendly choices.

Handloom weaving in India reflects the nation's cultural diversity through a wide array of textiles. Iconic handloom products include Banarasi sarees, Kanjeevaram silk, Pochampally ikat, and Bhagalpuri silk, among others.

According to the Fourth All India Handloom Census (2019-2020), about 3.522 million handloom workers were employed across the country, with women comprising 2.546 million, or 72.29%.

In the fiscal year 2022-23, mats and mattings accounted for 12.40% of the total handloom product exports from India. Home textiles represented over 60% of India's total handloom exports.

Major exported handloom items include mats, mattings, carpets, rugs, cushion covers, bedsheets, and other handloom articles.
Key handloom export hubs in India include Karur, Panipat, Varanasi, and Kannur. These centers specialise in producing a wide range of handloom products for international markets, such as bed linen, table linen, kitchen linen, toilet linen, floor coverings, embroidered textiles, and curtains.

India exports handloom products to more than 20 countries worldwide, with the USA being the largest importer. For the past eight years, the USA has consistently been the top importer of Indian handloom products, importing goods worth $58.12 million during the fiscal year 2022-23.

Also watch: From Kanjeevaram to Pashmina, glimpses into 5 rich handlooms of India