Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday inaugurated Handloom Haat: The Handloom Experience Centre at Janpath, New Delhi, bringing India’s handloom heritage, craftsmanship, contemporary design and retail together under one roof.
Singh also unveiled the logo of Handloom Haat in the presence of Textiles Secretary Neelam Shami Rao and Development Commissioner (Handlooms) M. Beena.
The inaugural showcase featured 24 award-winning weavers through an exhibition organised by the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC), along with more than 30 curated brands participating in the fifth edition of Weave The Future 5.0.
The showcase brought together weavers, designers, brands, researchers and other stakeholders and highlighted sustainable, circular and craft-led approaches to textile production. It featured contemporary products developed using handloom and regenerative materials, with an emphasis on indigenous fibres, material innovation and responsible textile practices.
The exhibition also included installations exploring India’s indigenous fibre landscape and the links between geography, agriculture, ecology and textile production.
During his visit, Singh toured retail stores at the centre and interacted with weavers, artisans and designers. He took an interest in the diverse handloom traditions, techniques, products and contemporary innovations displayed at the venue.
“Handloom Haat will create greater visibility and market opportunities for weavers and handloom enterprises,” Singh said.
The Handloom Experience Centre has been designed as more than a conventional retail space, providing visitors an opportunity to experience the diversity, quality and contemporary relevance of Indian handlooms while learning about the artisans and processes behind the textiles.
Three floors showcasing India’s handloom traditions
The three-storey centre offers visitors a curated experience covering different aspects of India’s handloom ecosystem.
The ground floor houses a temporary exhibition titled “Reimagining Odisha Weaves, Cloth, Craft, Creativity, Community”, organised by Vriksh Designs. The exhibition explores how contemporary design can help revive and revitalise regional textile traditions through collaborations between designers and master weavers.
It showcases lesser-known Odisha traditions such as Ganjam Bomkai and Dhalapathar Tapestry, along with innovations in Ikat, Jaala and Phoda weaving. The display also features natural dyes, new colour palettes, textures, motifs and contemporary product forms.
The first floor houses the Visvakarma Gallery, a permanent exhibition of rare textiles from the landmark Visvakarma exhibition series held between 1981 and 1991. Produced through Weavers’ Service Centres in collaboration with weaving communities, the textiles represent the intersection of technical expertise, creative expression and contemporary design in post-Independence India.
The gallery also honours Sant Kabir Award and Padma Shri awardees for their contributions to the practice, understanding and visibility of Indian handlooms.
The second floor features a Design Conclave and an immersive experience inspired by India’s forests and the rich repertoire of animal, bird, floral and other natural motifs found in the country’s diverse handloom traditions.
With its integrated focus on Handloom Excellence, Experience and Enterprise, the Handloom Experience Centre aims to provide visitors with a comprehensive understanding of India’s living textile heritage while creating greater visibility and market opportunities for weavers, artisans and handloom enterprises.
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