With World Handloom Day on August 7, a discussion on the importance of handwoven textiles and its preservation was recently held at a South Kolkata café by Sutra Textile Studies as a preview to an upcoming event, Hand Loom Sutra. This event will be held at ICCR and will feature several seminal discussions about textiles, a bazaar, a fashion walk, and an exhibition showcasing Indian handlooms. To flag off this three-day long exhibition, a talk was hosted on the topic ‘handcrafted textiles - now and in the future’.
The panel included Sandip Ray (filmmaker and patron, and past president of Sutra Textile Studies),Shabri Wable and Bappaditya Biswas (entrepreneurs), Suchismita Dasgupta ( designer),Lolita Ray and Joyce Johar (Sutra committee members), Sonali Basu (textile and crafts revivalist) and Vishal Saha (textile researcher). Actor Koneenica Banerjee launched the three-day event. During the discussion, Bappaditya Biswas said that “the consumers who understand the importance of making a sustainable choice are those who make the conscious decision to choose handloom”.
He further commented on the importance of preserving the heritage of the craft form and mentioned the importance of an exhibit explaining the loom-to-showroom process with a Taant exhibition. Joyce Johar, said, “ In the face of fast fashion, it's crucial to remember that each piece woven on a handloom carries the spirit of our ancestors and the meticulous effort of skilled artisans. Supporting and celeb.