National Handloom Day

July 7 marks National Handloom Day every year in India. The birth of the Swadeshi Movement was a momentous event in India’s handloom story. The Swadeshi Movement which was launched on 7th August 1905,  encouraged indigenous industries and in particular handloom weavers. 

It turned out to be a symbol of Indian resistance with handloom fabrics adopted as the preferred attire and the ‘charkha’ used on the flag during Swadeshi Movement. 

In 2015, the Government of India decided to designate the 7th August every year, as the National Handloom Day. The first National Handloom Day was inaugurated on 7 August 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai.

The story of the handloom is woven into India’s history when woven and dyed cotton fabrics excavated in the ruins of Mohenjo Daro, the references to weaving styles is found in the Vedas.

It’s no surprise that India is currently the producer of 95% of the world’s handwoven fabrics.

The handloom sector symbolises our country’s rich and varied cultural heritage, and also is an important source of livelihood in rural and semi-rural parts of our country. 

It is a sector that directly addresses women’s empowerment with over 70% of all weavers and allied workers being female. 

The handloom industry survived for centuries, passing down skills from generation to generation, surviving to this day.

The previous year saw the launch of the GoCoop marketplace where artisans could sell their products directly to customers, eliminating the need for middlemen, ensuring that the profits reached the artisans directly. 

The campaign Go Swadeshi was launched by GoCoop in August 2014 to celebrate the traditional arts and crafts of India.

Go Swadeshi has been reaching out directly to customers through exhibitions and sales in different cities apart from GoCoop’s online marketplace. Artisans and weavers showcase their authentic handwoven products directly to consumers and also share their success stories.

On National Handloom Day, artisans and weavers are awarded for their contribution to the development of the handloom industry.

On this special occasion, learn an array of ways to promote the Indian handloom and handicraft sectors.