HANDLOOM INDUSTRY: A TIMELESS TRADITION & ITS POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

sustainable supply chain

Published on 20th Nov, 2023

Last Edited on 10th Nov, 2026

Reading Time: 1 Minute Read

The handloom industry is a sustainable, ethical weaving tradition that cuts about 1.1 tons of CO2 compared with power loom fabric and needs no coal, electricity or emissions. Making handloom cloth avoids the 132 million metric tons of coal that power the plants producing the world's fabric. It suits readers who want sustainable handwoven fabric and support for weavers.

Anuprerna recognizes the importance of preserving traditional weaving techniques and supporting local artisans. By promoting handloom fabrics in her collections, Anuprerna not only celebrates the rich cultural heritage of handloom weaving but also contributes to sustainable practices in the textile industry.

Revival:

Mahatma Gandhi started the Swadeshi Movement to help the weavers of India continue their work and support the tradition of India. The Swadeshi movement encouraged the people to boycott the use of mill produced fabrics and continue the use of khadi.

Indian Handloom industry Today:
Since the 90's liberalisation, there has been an influx and growth of cheap mass-produced power loom fabrics which were design imitations made of poor quality materials. Being low cost, the handloom industry had to now compete with these cheap textiles. With a higher cost of natural yarns and a decline in demand, handloom weavers have been opting for other job opportunities rather than handweaving.

HANDLOOM & SUSTAINABILITY:

Handloom or any handmade craft for that matter go hand in hand with sustainability. Here is a list of ways, handloom is benefitting the environment:

“It takes 132 million metric tons of coal to power all the plants that produce fabric for the world. In contrast, making handloom cloth doesn’t need to consume even one piece of coal. Handloom is done without electricity or emissions.”

“It is calculated that about 1.1 tons of CO2 is cut by using handloom produced fabric rather than power loom produced fabric.”

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