Handloom Tale: Weaving Is Alive And Kicking
India is known for its craftsmanship, tradition, intricate embroidery, art and culture, starting from the Indus Valley Civilisation to the new era. Since then handcraft has become an integral part of the Indian culture.
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Bhuj (Gujrat), Jaipur, and Varanasi are a few names that are famous for artisanal, handloom and craftsmanship.
Different forms of weaves arise from different cities' social and linguistic groups. Each group and society has its significance. However, our arts are slowly fading away with increased modernisation and industrialisation.
These are a handful of companies trying to preserve weavers' creativity by giving them access to the entire world.
Shrujan (meaning Creativity in Sanskrit) is one of such Non-Governmental organisations (NGO), that offers craftswomen work from home. In 1969, Late Chanda Shroff, when Kutch (Gujrat) was suffering from severe drought, Late Chanda Shroff visited Dhaneti village in Kutch to help run a free kitchen. The village women were reluctant to accept charity. But in the exquisite hand embroidery displayed on their clothing, she saw a way to enable them to earn a sustainable and dignified livelihood.
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This is how Shroff & family empower women artisans of Kutch through their craftwork, in revert, they get a good amount for preparing unique work.
From bell-making to block printing, from pottery to woodcarving, Kutch has a vibrant crafts tradition that has been enriched over the centuries by the communities that have migrated to this region.
On the other hand, Varanasi's Tilfi brings the beauty and cultural wisdom of the age-old craftsmanship of the city to the world.
With its range of handwoven textiles and made-by-hand products, rooted in the region’s artisanal traditions, the brand preserves the heritage and fosters a strong sense of cultural identity and pride.
Choosing to employ care and consideration at each step in the production chain, the entire process from the first sketches to the final textile is overseen by the brand. The design of all collections is carried out in-house and in close collaboration with its master craftsmen. The manufacture of all of Tilfi’s textiles takes place solely in Banaras and is entrusted to over 2000 highly-specialised artisans and their workshops.
Launched in 2016 by Udit, Aditi and Ujjwal, Tilfi was born out of a five-decades old, Banaras-based family firm that passionately believes in the promise, beauty and enduring legacy of Banaras’ textile heritage. Inspired to return to their roots by one of their weavers, the three founders left their established international careers and started Tilfi with the aim of building a global, yet resolutely Indian artisanal luxury brand.
The manufacture of all of Tilfi’s textiles takes place solely in Banaras and is entrusted to over 2000 highly-specialised artisans and their workshops.
Tilfi is a self-funded, home-grown label known for its authentic Banarasi weaves and boasts of an international clientele and patrons who love to own and collect pure handlooms. Additionally, the brand does not believe in running any kind of sales on the website or at the store in Varanasi because of their belief that each valuable piece handcrafted is unique and the hard work put in by craftsmen associated with them deserves to be in the right hands and audience who can appreciate the authenticity of a weave.
