The handloom and handicraft sector in India is looking for new markets and opportunities. Global companies are willing to tie-up with Indian weavers and artisans. While most exports to global markets registered a decline, export of handicrafts continued to grow at 17 per cent.

A MoU has been signed with 20 e-commerce companies to engage with artisans and weavers in different handloom and handicraft clusters and help them market their products directly. This will go a long way in ensuring the clusters get the right price for their product as they are able to sell their product directly to the consumer.

Steps are being taken for skilling weavers, giving them design inputs, quality raw material, tools and upgrading their looms to empower them so that they continue to remain engaged in this craft. At design workshops weavers and artisans are informed about current market trends and the demands of the market.

Many weavers and artisans have become workers and laborers in the hands of traders or exporters. They get paid wages on a daily basis on whatever work they do a day, so instead of selling their craft and talent, they are now selling their labor. As a result, this has disinterested the young generation.