Assam will soon formulate a textile policy to boost the handloom and textile sector. The proposed policy will focus on integrating production and marketing of handloom and textile products, empowering weavers and making a niche for handicrafts of the state in the global market.

A state of the art emporium will be set up showcasing the unique and attractive fabrics of all communities of the state. Pragmatic strategies will be formulated to empower rural weavers, marketing of products as well as motivating young entrepreneurs to take up the trade.

A chain-linked exhibition system is being planned covering all districts of Assam for proper marketing of the handicrafts. Assam’s handloom industry is basically silk oriented. Four varieties of silk worms and their host-plants, mulberry, Eri, Muga and Oak Tassar, are popular and important for economic and commercial purposes. Nearly 90 per cent of the silk produced is from the mulberry sector only.

Fabrics from Assam include the hand-woven fabrics of cotton, muga, pat (mulberry silk) and eri (endi). Muga has a natural golden texture, mildly warm and is particularly suited for winters. Zari work on Muga silk fabrics were woven for royalty, but today zari has been replaced by multi-colored cotton threads. Cotton textiles include bedspreads, furnishing material, mekhala, chaddars, shawls and saris.