Mahatma Gandhi once famously said that every woman in rural India is a
weaver. The Swadeshi Movement that he started in 1905, was pivoted to the
Handloom sector. Recognizing how widely prevalent the practice of weaving is
in rural India, Gandhi envisioned that it had the potential to create economic
resistance to the British Government by boycotting the textile goods from the
mills in Manchester. Even in the post-independence era, the Handloom sector
continues to receive importance in government policies for rural communities,
especially among women. After agriculture, handicrafts are the biggest
industry in rural India. Handloom easily comprises a big segment of the
Handicraft sector. But let us examine how the Handloom sector is an integral
part of the lives of women in rural India:

1. Traditions: The practice of weaving with manual looms has been a part of
traditions in rural Indian communities for centuries. A strong presumption
(production for one’s consumption) culture exists when it comes to textile
goods. Women weave their textiles in their leisure time and often share their
excess production as gifts or sell them in local markets.
2. Learning Early: Most women in rural India learn weaving at an early
teenage. It is a norm in many communities that women should know the
practice before they are at a marriageable age. Also, such skills flow from
generation to generation. Mothers will teach their daughters who in turn will
teach their daughters.
3. Community: Weaving is conducted as a community-wide practice. Women
share designs and motifs with each other. They also sit together for spinning
thread during the idle hours of the day when they do not have household
chores or farm work.

The reason why the handloom industry is a different kind of empowerment for
these women is that it does not demand new skill development. Nor does it
require them to leave their homes for work. Most of these rural women have a
busy life on the farm and are also expected to do household chores. During
peak farming seasons, they work from dusk till dawn. The beauty of the
handloom sector is that it effortlessly fits into their lifestyles and makes them
feel more capable of earning for their families without leaving their homes.
The Indian government supports this industry in multiple ways. Area Block
offices provide yarn and loom to local women. The government also frequently
holds training programs in villages. NGOs and companies also aid these
women in reaching markets by procuring their products and taking over
distribution and marketing. But some companies take it further. They
experiment with these weaver communities on new materials and new
techniques. The Dutch brand, Dzukou, works with silk weavers in North East
India. They tinker and experiment with the materials to develop new surface
finishes and incorporate new fibres such as banana and bamboo into the silk
textiles. When companies work to collaborate with these women weavers in
making and experimenting, it helps them develop their design sense and know
more about the trends in the markets, which are usually far away from their
rural homes.
When you buy “Handwoven in India” textiles, you directly reach their weaving
communities. You make it possible for them to work from their remote homes,
live in their communities, earn for their families, and feel happy about their
creative output. Hence, " Handwoven in India” is women empowerment.
Author Bio:
Prarthana Majumdar is a founder of the sustainable lifestyle brand, Dzukou
(www.dzukou.com). Dzukou also works with rural craftsmen in East India to tinker and
experiment with their materials. The aim is to innovate new eco-materials for products and
also help these craftsmen to reach western markets. Prarthana is also a researcher in the
field of Sustainability and Design.