How much we know about our hand looms

Handloom (Pit loom) in Tamil Nadu - Gudiyatham (Vellore)

Do you know how your clothes are made? Do you know, is your cloth is handmade or weaved through machines. Living in city side, did you watched any Hand loom in your area? In this time of modern technology and advanced science why we are still using the handmade clothes. Did you anyone think of that?

Hand loom weaving in Gudiyatham - Vellore

Why the villagers should continue this tradition of hand loom while urbanities in India can go any extent to make their lifestyles luxurious. And also, this work is more time taking and laborious right. But why this is so special to highlight the handloom industry.

Of course, handloom is an amazing beautifully weaved fabric fully depends on the skills of the labor. There is no need for electricity to weave the loom. It is fully depending on mechanical energy and moods of the weaver. 

Street sizing of yarn

Yarn sizing.

Did you noticed any tightness in your newly purchased hand loomed cloth just after your first wore, it mean the fabric is tightly weaved? Right, the reason behind this is the moods of the weavers who weaves the fabric. Because each fabric is a reflection of the weaver's thoughts and moods. 

If you think that your fabric is little bit tight, the weaver might be angry or he have any tension during the weaving process. While it would be loose when the weaver is sad. 

Hank yarn (coiled) and Shuttle

But sure, you can notice a uniqueness in texture of fabric and dyes used in the fabric, which you will not see in any machine weaving process. If the same fabric is weaved by two Weavers whose skills are similar, we can find a uniqueness on its way. Just like any painting of an artist, wildlife photography by photographers, beautiful sculptures by sculptors each woven fabric by a skilled weaver is a unique masterpiece. This masterpiece of weaving can be achieved through the combination of

Creativity,

Mind focus,

Concentration,

Patience,

Clarity on thoughts,

Better time management, and also

Notice the health condition of the weaver. 

But still it is a complex process, each hand-woven fabric made its effects on Weavers. Is a thought, that handlooms would perish because of over-time working and involve more labors compared to that of power looms. Saying that traditional will be replaced by modern like photography, painting, sculpting modelling using clay materials will go obsolete because of the invention of graphic designs and 3D ink printers. But we should believe in our traditional things, saying that 'Old is Gold' always. Our tradition will never replace by modern technology. 

Spinned yarn used for weaving

Spinning of hank yarn

So, our Indian government announced a day to highlight the handloom industry. Yes, the National Handloom Day is observed every year on August 7 to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on this same day in 1905 in the Calcutta Town Hall to protest against the British Government. This day celebrates our indigenous fabrics and products and also encouraging our weavers and artisans.

On this special occasion lakhs of people posts their pictures of weaving on social medias and trending the hashtags on Twitter, thus encouraging the hard work of Weavers. 

Today the modern world is facing the challenge of generating more power to fulfill the ever-increasing needs for energy. Mostly from non-renewable resources, right. This leads to the emission of greenhouse gases and global warming at an alarming rate.

So, we can choose a hand loom made cloth rather than power looms, because it is manually weaved and it will give you an overall unique finish. Let us support the local Weavers instead of a corporate company. 

Hand loom cloth

You can create a better environment if you choose a handloom cloth over power loom and also it is our pride because it is our tradition, you are not just making the weaver happy and richer but also for a sustainable environment and a good future.