FICCI FLO Ahmedabad Chapter holds textile & handicrafts tourism symposium and conclave

NE BUSINESS BUREAU

AHMEDABAD, JULY 5

The COVID-19 induced crisis has badly hit the traditional textile and  handicrafts artisans and tourism-related industries in Gujarat in the last 15 months as their businesses have witnessed a deadlock. While weavers, artisans and are facing a lot of problems to earn their living, the tourism-related industry employing large chunk of people faces uncertain future and GST issue. The government should take some concrete steps to revive these sectors.

To resolve this crisis and boost their economic activity, FICCI FLO Ahmedabad Chapter is organizing a one-day textile & handicrafts  tourism symposium in the city on July 9 which will be followed by a two-day enclave on August 5-6, said Nandita Munshaw, FICCI FLO Chairperson Ahmedabad on Monday.

In the one-day textile & handicrafts  tourism symposium, 18 speakers from the NGOs, artisans, private tourism industry stalwarts and the government representative from Gujarat tourism will hold a brain-storming session on  policies and promotions to revive these twin sectors. The compiled report will be submitted to the state government to resolve the issues, Munshaw added.

Elaborating on this symposium, Munsahw said, “With an aim to recognize artists who play their vital part in taking Gujarat’s textile to the next level, the symposium will highlight the lesser known textile and handicrafts regions of Gujarat in tribal belts which will not only bridge the gap between weavers and tourists but also it will encourage overall development of tourism.”

While appreciating various arts and artisans of Gujarat’s rich textile, Nandita Munshaw  said “To me Patola or Bandhini are timeless and more than that the way these arts have been passed on to generations is really encouraging. It shows how inclined they are and how much value arts has in their lives.”

The triangle of Kutch, Patan and Surendranagar is very famous for their beautiful weaves. With the help of such a textile symposium, other artisans and weavers hailing from east, south and north of Gujarat can also be highlighted thereby giving them a proper platform to enlighten their works. The textile symposium can further help accentuate their products while shedding light on their creativity which will also encourage tourists from different places to buy their extraordinary weaves and handicrafts, she added.

Textile Initiative Head, Shilpa Patel said, “Ahmedabad city has acquired the UNESCO heritage tag but it should be more inclusive in terms of its textile and crafts lineage which should be acknowledged and must reach beyond Ahmedabad. I desperately hope that the craftspeople must be well-recognized, well-paid and remain well-versed from generation to generation. With the help of such a textile symposium, we together endeavor to help flourish crafts and textile of Gujarat in the presence of expert speakers and stalwarts of the tourism industry that will together carve out an innovative route map for the betterment of craftspeople, in more than many ways.”

From Bandhani, Zari, Beadwork, Patola, Claywork, Patchwork, Leather Handcraft, Tangaliya Work, Ragan Painting and Embroidery Work, almost every district of Gujarat holds its special form of art. Hence, traditional crafts play a significant role in the lives of Gujarati people.

“A fair share of attention, recognition and money should be given to such craftspeople. We at FLO wholeheartedly encourage people to value handloom products, appreciate their works, own the pieces of creativity and use them in their daily life so as to boost pride and positivity of the lesser-known craftspeople. Buying their arts will not only beautify our life but it will also add value to their creativity whilst encouraging their sustainability,“ she added.

The two-day conclave in August will bring together all stakeholders – artisans, tourism and hospitality stalwarts and the policymakers — to carry forward their business to the next level. A weavers’ directory, containing details of over 700 artisans, their products will be brought out at the valedictory function.

Further, FLO FICCI will facilitate a digital platform for the artisans to reach out to all 18 chapters of the FLO as well as their customers and tourists, Patel added.

As a guest speaker Nilda Alvarez who is an indigenous weaver from Peru said, “I have learned that each and every piece of cloth embodies the spirit, skill, and personal history of an individual weaver. It ties together with an endless thread the emotional life of my people.”

TEXTILES & HANDICRAFTS TOURISM SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS