Traditional Textiles

Why does a designer have to lie? Why don’t we give the master craftsperson his/her due? Master embroiderer, craft exponent and revivalist Asif Sheikh answers these questions and more on the whats and whys that plague the handcrafted handloom industry.

The unique opportunity presented by the availability of high-quality local fibres, the rich array of handwoven, hand-processed or industrial textiles produced on the continent, and the strength of the demand for African designs means that the sector is ripe for new investments and policies. Unless, the West reads “ripe for investment” as “ripe for plunder.”

A “crusader” against climate challenges, the importance of preserving and promoting India’s homespun khadi was underscored at a talking heads symposium organised by Delhi University’s Lady Irwin College.