Handloom industry needs a boost

In 2003, the number of handlooms in the country was 1,83,512, but in the next decade, the number has fallen by 36.79 per cent to 1,16006. This shows that the cottage industry, which is intertwined with the heritage of the country, has seen a marked decline over time. The fall has been due to the rise of cheap, low quality imports from India, change of people’s preference from handloom to machine made ones and the rise in the price of raw materials. However, there is also a sign of optimism because Khazana held a Heritage Handloom Festival in the city, aimed at promoting local industry, which had been living under the shadow of imported garments. To revive the handloom industry, the government needs to come up with a cohesive strategy that will involve a full scale glitzy promotion of products made by rural artisans.

In that approach, products made by handlooms need to be diversified to meet the demands of the current day fashion conscious people. In India, top fashion brands like Ritu, Kiumar, Reemly Mohanty have revived handloom products to blend with their top end fashion items for the upmarket buyers in major cities. Following that formula, our brands can also bring about silk and khadi items into mainstream fashion through top models plus fashion writers. In short, handloom has to be injected with some much needed boost.

If one fashion brand takes the initiative and starts to make shirts, bags, overalls, winter jackets, scarves using handlooms, the indigenous industry will see a swift rejuvenation. At the same time, Bangladesh can attract global fashion icons like Versace, Ralph Lauren, Next or Calvin Klein to procure handloom made products, aligning with the pro-environment mantra which is now a central theme for celebrated fashion brands. Under the tag: sustainable fashion, handloom products can easily create a demand among the modern day young.

The industry is there, buyers are willing to get new items that will be different and the only thing required is a fashion synthesis expert who will use old technology to cater to new tastes. The government can show the way by taking the first step and use handloom made clothes as uniforms for Parjatan and Biman staff.

Over time, handloom clothes can be made mandatory for off duty casual wear for members of the police, defence forces and the cadets. It doesn’t take too much, only a few intelligent moves to revive the handloom industry. Let it not slide away due to our lethargy.

 

Handloom industry needs a boost

In 2003, the number of handlooms in the country was 1,83,512, but in the next decade, the number has fallen by 36.79 per cent to 1,16006. This shows that the cottage industry, which is intertwined with the heritage of the country, has seen a marked decline over time. The fall has been due to the rise of cheap, low quality imports from India, change of peoples preference from handloom to machine made ones and the rise in the price of raw materials. However, there is also a sign of optimism because Khazana held a Heritage Handloom Festival in the city, aimed at promoting local industry, which had been living under the shadow of imported garments. To revive the handloom industry, the government needs to come up with a cohesive strategy that will involve a full scale glitzy promotion of products made by rural artisans. In that approach, products made by handlooms need to be diversified to meet the demands of the current day fashion conscious people. In India, top fashion brands like Ritu, Kiumar, Reemly Mohanty have revived handloom products to blend with their top end fashion items for the upmarket buyers in major cities. Following that formula, our brands can also bring about silk and khadi items into mainstream fashion through top models plus fashion writers. In short, handloom has to be injected with some much needed boost. If one fashion brand takes the initiative and starts to make shirts, bags, overalls, winter jackets, scarves using handlooms, the indigenous industry will see a swift rejuvenation. At the same time, Bangladesh can attract global fashion icons like Versace, Ralph Lauren, Next or Calvin Klein to procure handloom made products, aligning with the pro-environment mantra which is now a central theme for celebrated fashion brands. Under the tag: sustainable fashion, handloom products can easily create a demand among the modern day young. The industry is there, buyers are willing to get new items that will be different and the only thing required is a fashion synthesis expert who will use old technology to cater to new tastes. The government can show the way by taking the first step and use handloom made clothes as uniforms for Parjatan and Biman staff. Over time, handloom clothes can be made mandatory for off duty casual wear for members of the police, defence forces and the cadets. It doesnt take too much, only a few intelligent moves to revive the handloom industry. Let it not slide away due to our lethargy.