Invaluable legacy of handloom & hand printed textiles cries for revival

07 Dec '06

2 min read

Weavers' Service Centre, Ahmedabad today, displayed exclusive handloom & hand printed textiles developed on the designs of historically important landmark temples of Gujarat - Dwarka & Somnath.

Organized by Office of the Development Commissioner, (Handloom) Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the exhibition is being held at L & V Visual Art Gallery, Kasturbhai Lalbhai Campus, CEPT (Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology) University.

The purpose of this grand exhibition is to bring into forefront the languishing arts and crafts of India, commented R M Parmar, Assistant Director, Weavers' Service Centre, Ahmedabad.

Punamchand Parmar, Commissioner & Secretary, Commissionerate of Cottage & Rural Industries, Gujarat, inaugurated this exhibition. He informed that the Government is much concerned about the weaving industry of Gujarat and the present exhibition is the result of efforts put in by Ministry of Textiles, which has granted funds through the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS).

He also appealed the youth to come forward and do whatever they can to save this ancient art of handloom. Speaking exclusively to Fibre2fashion, Parmar made observations on the competition handloom industry is facing from powerloom sector, and said that to guard this invaluable legacy, the Ministry has formed an enforcement wing and patented 11 handloom products, which cannot be manufactured by powerloom sector.

Among the dignitaries attending the event included Umang Hatheesing, Trustee, L & P Hatheesing Visual Art Gallery and S K Chaturvedi, Managing Director, Gujarat State Handloom Handicraft Development Corporation Ltd (GSHHDC).

Umang Hatheesing spoke about the glory of handloom industry and Chaturvedi informed that GSHHDC will boost the sector by buying the products and selling them through its showrooms.

Handloom products on display include cotton furnishing, woollen shwals, stole, cotton block printed dress material, screen printed cotton & silk saree, block printed silk saree, discharge printed silk saree, cotton bed sheet and vegetable print cotton saree.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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