This National Handloom Day, as we honour the richness of our textile heritage, it’s equally important to spotlight the new generation breathing fresh life into age-old traditions. Beyond celebration, it’s a call to recognition of the young hands at the grassroots who are quietly and resolutely weaving the future of Indian craft.
Meet seven young weavers who are helping Indian handlooms thrive in modern times:
1. Reshma Sharukh Pathan, 28 - Paithani Weaver, Yeola, Maharashtra
Reshma belongs to a family of Paithani weavers and began weaving under her father’s guidance six years ago. From traditional motifs like munia and florals, she's now experimenting with landscapes and contemporary designs. Working with brands like Asha Gautam, she’s elevating her artistry while opening doors for her entire community. ‘Weaving is a part of our heritage. My family has been involved in this craft for two generations, and I’m proud to carry that tradition forward,’ she says.
2. Vidyashree Parashuram Degal, 32 - Belagavi, Karnataka
Taught to weave at age 12, Vidyashree returned to the loom after a long break. Now the sole provider for her family, weaving has become her anchor. ‘In this situation, considering weaving for my livelihood has been a beacon in my darkness. All of a sudden, I couldn't go so far and learn new ones; instead, weaving is a proud activity I could do, as it has come to me from my father. Weaving is also my passion, and now it's time for me to restart it with new vibes of positivity to accomplish and achieve the dreams of life,’ she shares. Vidyashree made her weaving comeback after learning the foundations of colour, design, market orientation concept and collection development at Somaiya Kala Vidya. Hers is a quiet revolution for dignity, motherhood, and survival. She is now a part of the Fabric Collective of weavers called Haasu Hokku.
3. Guda Pavan, 26 - Telia Rumal & Natural Dye Expert, Puttapaka, Telangana
Pavan is deeply rooted in his weaving heritage. Inspired by his father and national award-winning master weaver Guda Srinu, he is trained in natural dyeing as well. He blends design innovation with tradition seamlessly through his skill and craft. Pavan’s bold aesthetic, knowledge of colour theory, and dedication to the Telia Rumal technique are helping keep the craft alive and thriving.
‘My father inspires me to weave and do this handloom craft. His dedication interest respect towards our craft made me his biggest fan. I grew up seeing all these weaving techniques, tying and dyeing, it gives me immense happiness whenever I get to know about any new technique or when I am doing this work,’ says Pavan
4. Pandiyan & Selvi, 39 & 36 - Jamakkalam Weavers, Erode, Tamil Nadu
Jamakkalam, the iconic handwoven carpet from Tamil Nadu, is on the brink of extinction, but Pandiyan and Selvi are rewriting the future of this centuries-old craft. Introducing new methods while honouring old ones, even their 14-year-old son is now learning the craft. ‘This is an art that has been passed on to me by my ancestors and is a skill that cannot be replicated. By doing this, I am my own master and am not answerable to anyone but myself and my community and together we aim to build back and revive what once stood high and grow much larger than ever before,’ says Pandiyan. The Jamakkalam cluster, where Pandiyan, the youngest master weaver, collaborates closely with fashion label Erode, helping revive the craft through design interventions that expand its colours, techniques, and possibilities beyond home décor into fashion, lifestyle, and more.
5. Kanchan Makwana, 24 - Carpet Weaver & Founder, Panjadhari, Kutch
In the heart of Kutch, Kanchan has moved from extra-weft weaving to creating carpets as artworks. Through her label Panjadhari, she gives voice to stories through warp and weft. Also a Somaiya Kala Vidya student, the label and carpets she weaves are like art to her, more than a form of business. 'Everytime I sit at the loom and watch the design take shape, it inspires me,' she says.
6. Pooja Vankar, 19 - Kala Cotton, Fine Cotton and Silk Weaver & Founder, Live Threads- Kutch
Pooja Vankar is the first woman in her family to carry forward the legacy of traditional weaving, a craft deeply rooted in her lineage. A student at Somaiya Kala Vidya, she is supported wholeheartedly by her family. Pooja has been weaving for the past three to four years, driven by a dream to not just preserve, but also evolve the art. Through her brand Live Threads, she works with fine and kala cotton, blending age-old techniques with contemporary design. Her work is a quiet revolution, proof that innovation can still be rooted in tradition. ‘I want to take the craft forward, do something new with it, yet rooted in tradition. It’s my dream’ she says.
These weavers are not just preserving craft, they’re shaping its future. This National Handloom Day, we honour their artistry, resilience, and commitment to weaving India’s textile heritage into something enduringly beautiful.