Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh inaugurated Handloom Haat: The Handloom Experience Centre at Janpath, New Delhi, bringing together India’s handloom heritage, knowledge, contemporary design, enterprise and retail under one roof. The building was inaugurated along with the logo of Handloom Haat unveiled by Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh in the presence of Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Textiles and Dr. M. Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms).

The inaugural showcase featured 24 award-winning weavers through an exhibition organised by the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC), alongside 30+ curated brands participating through Weave The Future 5.0. The fifth edition of Weave The Future brought together weavers, designers, brands, researchers and other stakeholders, showcasing sustainable, circular and craft-led approaches to textiles. The showcase featured contemporary products developed through handloom and regenerative materials, with a focus on indigenous fibres, material innovation and responsible textile practices. It also featured installations exploring India’s indigenous fibre landscape and the relationship between geography, agriculture, ecology and textile production.

The Union Minister visited various retails stores and interacted with weavers, artisans and designers taking keen interest in the diverse handloom traditions, products, techniques and contemporary innovations showcased at the centre. The visit highlighted the rich craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit of India’s handloom community and offered an engaging glimpse into the people and processes behind the handwoven textiles.

The retail experience at Handloom Haat extends beyond conventional shopping, offering visitors an opportunity to discover the diversity, quality and contemporary relevance of Indian handlooms. Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh said that “Handloom Haat will create greater visibility and market opportunities for weavers and handloom enterprises.”

A Multi-Layered Handloom Experience

The inauguration offered guests a curated journey across the three floors of Handloom Haat, showcasing different dimensions of India’s handloom ecosystem.

The ground floor features temporary exhibition “Reimagining Odisha Weaves, Cloth, Craft, Creativity, Community” by Vriksh Designs. The exhibition showcased how contemporary design can contribute to the revival and revitalisation of regional textile traditions through collaboration between designers and master weavers. It highlighted lesser-known Odisha traditions such as Ganjam Bomkai and Dhalapathar Tapestry, alongside innovations in Ikat, Jaala and Phoda weaving, natural dyes, new colourways, textures, motifs and product forms.

The first floor features the Visvakarma Gallery, a permanent gallery bringing together rare textiles from the landmark Visvakarma exhibition series (1981 to 1991). Produced through Weavers’ Service Centres in close collaboration with weaving communities, these textiles reflect the coming together of technical skill, creative imagination and contemporary inquiry in

post-independent India. The gallery also pays tribute to Sant Kabir awardees and Padma Shri awardees, recognising their exceptional contributions to the practice, understanding and visibility of Indian handlooms.

The second floor featured the Design Conclave and an immersive experience inspired by India’s forests and the rich repertoire of animal, bird, floral and natural motifs found across the country’s diverse handloom traditions.

With its integrated approach to Handloom Excellence, Experience and Enterprise, the Handloom Experience Centre will provide visitors with an opportunity to discover the many dimensions of India’s living textile heritage, from the skilled hands and traditional processes behind the cloth to its contemporary possibilities.

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(रिलीज़ आईडी: 2299718) आगंतुक पटल : 98