Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Handloom Doesn't Need Revival, It Needs Recognition, Designer Says
Handloom is cloth that is woven by hand on a special machine called a loom.
A designer named Anindita Sardar works at a clothing company called Taneira.
On World Handloom Day, she talked about why handloom is so important.
She said handloom is not old or outdated.
Instead, it is the beginning of many beautiful clothes we wear today.
She thinks people should notice and respect the hard work of the weavers.
She said even a simple, low-cost saree deserves the same respect as an expensive one.
She also reminded us that reusing and recycling things has always been a part of Indian life.
She believes Indian handloom has a bright future around the world.
Most of all, she wants more people to see and celebrate the handloom crafts that already exist.
Anindita Sardar, Head of Design at Taneira, said on World Handloom Day that Indian handloom does not need revival—it needs greater visibility and recognition.
She argued that handloom is the foundation of fashion, since many fashionable garments begin with fabrics developed on a loom.
She said the idea that handloom must be expensive and heirloom-like has limited its appeal among younger consumers, and that handloom can fit into fast fashion too.
She noted that upcycling and recycling have always been part of Indian life, citing hand-me-down clothes and shared school books as examples.
She called India unmatched in the diversity of its weaving traditions, adding that even an ₹800 saree deserves the same respect as a Banarasi or Kanchipuram saree worth one lakh rupees.
- Who
- Anindita Sardar, Head of Design at Taneira
- What
- Argued that India's handloom sector does not need revival but rather greater recognition and visibility, describing handloom as the foundation of fashion
- When
- On the occasion of World Handloom Day
- Where
- India (the discussion concerns India's handloom sector; no specific venue is stated in the article)
- Why
- Because she believes handloom is already a strong, living part of Indian culture and fashion, but its craftsmanship is overlooked by consumers
- Speaker
- Anindita Sardar
- Role
- Head of Design, Taneira
- Occasion
- World Handloom Day
- Core Message
- Indian handloom needs recognition and visibility, not revival
- Featured Crafts
- Pochampally Ikat (Andhra Pradesh); Ikat traditions in Odisha and Gujarat
- Saree Price Comparison
- An ₹800 saree deserves the same respect as a Banarasi or Kanchipuram saree worth one lakh rupees
- Sustainability View
- Upcycling and recycling have always been part of Indian culture