Weavers in India

Travelling with my husband, I had the privilege of spending a month in India this winter. A highlight was visiting weavers handlooming textiles as they have for generations. India has a long tradition of handloom weaving. So much so, that it fostered the independence movement from British colonial rule led by Mahatma Gandhi. Inspired by Gandhi, the humble acts of spinning and weaving undermined Britain’s industrial dominance and led to the dismantling of 200 years of British colonial rule. 

In the past few generations, handloom weaving has been replaced by machine production and handlooming was becoming obsolete. Weavers took up other work, often in cities, leaving their traditional way of life behind. Recently, however, there has been a revival of handloom textiles, giving weavers new opportunities to sustain their traditional crafts and livelihoods. We had the  opportunity to visit an organization whose mission is to train and teach young weavers and carry on the traditional livelihoods. 

Here below are photos and videos we took at the the weavers campus. 

A lesson in colour-study for the students.

If their work is valued, as reflected by demand in the marketplace, young people will be attracted to these traditional forms of livelihood and the revival will continue.  

Bougainvillea flowers in bloom at the weavers' site.