Handloom sarees are a traditional textile art form from South Asia, and India’s second largest source of employment after agriculture (employing nearly 30 lakh people according to the Handloom Census of 2009–2010). The importance of handloom textiles and for the weavers stretches back to our pre-independence days, and even now, a number of weavers are members of workers’ cooperatives that ensure that they receive good working conditions and a fair wage.
Different regions use a number of different weaving techniques, motifs or patterns, and colours that allow them to be distinct from each other. This means that there is a large variety of handloom sarees to choose from, each named after the place they are from. Some examples are Baluchari, Banarasi, Kanchipuram, Tangail (from Bangladesh), etc.
Handloom saris are either made in pit looms or using fly-shuttle looms. Saris are most often made from silk or cotton, and the process involves multiple stages, including dyeing, warping, sizing, etc.
It is extremely important to support this homegrown industry in the era of cheap imports and powerlooms, where increased production of textiles (regardless of quality) and a lack of support from the government is making it harder for weavers to keep up and earn the living that they deserve.
