There are 2.4 million handlooms in India; much of the popularity of handloom products stems from their unique and diverse designs. The most current trend in handloom products is to mix old designs with new techniques to create more innovative products. Handlooms also use naturally grown fibers and dyes. Handloom products are created by weavers from all over the country. There are the Madras plaids (checks) and Kanchipuram weaves of Tamil Nadu and the Tie-and-Dyes of Gujarat and Rajasthan as well as the Eri and Muga silks from Assam.
The handloom sector is a very important industry, as it is the second largest employer of the rural population after agriculture. The handloom industry employs 13 million people directly and indirectly and contributes to almost 19% of the total fabric produced in the country. The Indian handloom industry also produces over 70 percent of the world’s handwoven fabrics. In 2013, this sector produced 6.9 billion square meters of cloth.
In 2015, Indian handloom exports rose to $368 million compared to $264 million five years earlier. In 2015, the United States was one of the biggest importers of Indian handloom products with purchases of $108 million, followed by the U.K. ($30 million) and Germany ($25 million). Italy, France, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and the U.A.E were other export destinations.
Some companies and brands that utilize India’s handloom products include IKEA, Target, and Walmart.
Last updated: August 6th, 2016
