National Handloom Day: Expo Showcases Resonance of Kerala’s Handloom Sector

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The evolution of Kerala’s handloom sector as a sustainable and attractive brand by blending the best of tradition with innovation to meet today’s trends was on display at an expo held here as part of the National Handloom Day today.

The richness, diversity and craftsmanship of Kerala’s handloom products came out in a profusion colours at the expo of handloom clusters, organised by the Directorate of Handloom & Textiles, Govt of Kerala at Hotel Forte Manor in the city.

As many as 15 handloom clusters from across the state displayed their products at the expo.

Apart from storied traditional attires like ‘pavu mundu’ and ‘Kerala saree’, the stands were stacked with trendy male and female wear like kurta, churidar top, children’s wear and jackets.

Also, on display were an assortment of eco-friendly handloom items like shopping bags and handbags, which have become the sustainable alternative to plastic the world over.

In a healthy competitive spirit, the exhibitors had come with their best products that bear the imprint of respective places, such as Chirakkal, Kannapuram, Mangattupara, Irinavu, Perumba (all in Kannur district), Perambra (Kozhikode), Kodumba, Marlad (Palakkad), Kottarakkara (Kollam) and Kottukal, Kalamachal, Nemom, Mangalthukonam, Padinjarekkara ( Thiruvananthapuram).

The Women’s Handloom Cluster from Balaramapuram stole the show as its members demonstrated live their aesthetic sense and skill in various stages of production from spinning to designing.

Aimed at integrated and sustainable development of the handloom sector and welfare of workers, the government had launched the Small Cluster Development Programme (SCDP), which provides financial aid and other support to the participating units.

The National Handloom Day commemorates the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905 as part of the freedom struggle with a clarion call to revive India’s time-honoured handloom sector as the pivot of the self-reliance campaign against the British colonial rule.