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Sobhita Dhulipala Champions Living Heritage Through Aadyam Handwoven
Sobhita Dhulipala is working with Aadyam Handwoven, a group that supports Indian weaving communities.
Aadyam launched a new collection for autumn and winter 2026.
It includes clothing such as saris and dupattas, as well as items for homes.
The designs use weaving traditions from several parts of India.
Sobhita likes handlooms because each piece shows the work of a real person.
She believes textiles should be worn, used and allowed to gather memories.
Manish Saksena said modern designs should not erase the special skills and materials of traditional crafts.
Aadyam wants to give weavers steady work and help them receive fair value for their skills.
Both speakers described handloom as an important living part of Indian culture.
Sobhita Dhulipala joined Aadyam Handwoven as its official brand ambassador in December 2025.
Aadyam Handwoven’s Autumn/Winter 2026 collection includes saris, dupattas and contemporary home textiles.
The collection features weaving traditions from Varanasi, Bhuj, Pochampally, Kashmir, Gadwal and Venkatagiri.
Sobhita described Indian textiles as wearable art that should be lived in rather than preserved behind glass.
Aadyam business lead Manish Saksena said the initiative aims to provide artisans year-round work and protect craft identity while updating designs.
- Who
- Actress Sobhita Dhulipala, Aadyam Handwoven business lead Manish Saksena and the weaver communities supported by Aadyam.
- What
- Aadyam Handwoven launched its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, while Dhulipala discussed her role as brand ambassador and her views on handloom.
- Where
- The collection draws on weaving traditions from Varanasi, Bhuj, Pochampally, Kashmir, Gadwal and Venkatagiri in India.
- When
- Dhulipala joined as official brand ambassador in December 2025; the collection is for Autumn/Winter 2026.
- Why
- Aadyam aims to make handloom relevant to contemporary life, support weavers and preserve the identity and value of traditional crafts.
Preservation and Heritage
Modern Use and Relevance
How handloom should be protected
Preservation and Heritage
Traditional materials, motifs, techniques and craft identities must remain intact so the work is not diluted or made indistinguishable from machine production.
Modern Use and Relevance
Handloom should not be treated as something frozen in the past or placed behind glass; it should be worn, used and adapted to contemporary life.
Designing for the present
Preservation and Heritage
Authenticity, revival and restoration should remain rooted in indigenous skills, materials and motifs.
Modern Use and Relevance
Modernity can be introduced through new colours, forms, global influences and uses beyond saris, provided the craft’s signature remains recognizable.
How handloom should be valued
Preservation and Heritage
Handloom deserves respect and prices that reflect the skill, labour and livelihoods behind each textile, rather than being bought as charity or promotion.
Modern Use and Relevance
Its relevance depends on finding contemporary buyers and markets who value it for its inherent beauty and use, including as home textiles and everyday clothing.
Key facts
- Brand ambassador
- Sobhita Dhulipala joined Aadyam Handwoven as its official brand ambassador in December 2025.
- Organization
- Aadyam Handwoven was launched in 2020 as an Aditya Birla Group corporate social enterprise.
- Collection
- The Autumn/Winter 2026 collection spans wardrobe and home categories.
- Wardrobe items
- The collection includes heirloom handwoven saris and dupattas.
- Home collections
- The home line is divided into Vana and Baadal.
- Featured traditions
- The collection includes weaves from Varanasi, Bhuj, Pochampally, Kashmir, Gadwal and Venkatagiri.
- Artisan support
- Aadyam says it seeks to provide weavers with work throughout the year, transparency and the ability to value and price their skills.
Quotes
Manish Saksena
Business lead at Aadyam Handwoven
“It needs to find its own vocabulary, market and buyers who purchase it for its true value, not as a promotion, sympathy, or favour.”
telegraphindia.com
“Our endeavour is to free the artisan from the vagaries of the market and leave them to hone their skills and excel.”
telegraphindia.com
Sobhita Dhulipala
Actress and Aadyam Handwoven brand ambassador
“A textile needs to be lived in. It needs to move, age, crease, travel and acquire memories. That’s how traditions stay alive.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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