NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, AUG 9
FICCI FLO Ahmedabad Chapter’s textile, handicraft conclave has given a global platform to the finest textile handlooms and handcraft artisans of Gujarat.
Gujarat Chief Minister VijaybhaiRupani, virtually presented a note in support of this project.
Chief Guest Dr Preeti G Adani, Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, the CSR arm of Adani Group, dwelt at length on the efforts of the Foundation in preserving and propagating a rare art form of Kutch from extinction.
Dr Preeti said, “In 2017, Adani Foundation came to know about the Namda Kala. Impressed by the intricacy of the art form the team reached out to Karim Umar Mansuri, the only Namda artisan in Kutch (Gujarat). After understanding how the artifacts are made, the Foundation decided to help sustain Namda. Later in that year, the Adani Group placed an order worth Rs 5.5 lakhs. To complete this order and for Namda Kala to reach more people, Adani Foundation got 30-35 artisans onboard and fully funded their training cost. In addition to this, the Foundation also supported Karim in converting his kutcha studio into pucca one where he personally trained the said artisans and together, they were able to complete the order. Soon after, he was approached by professors and students from renowned design schools like NID and NIFT.”
“The families in this region are traditionally involved animal husbandry, owning large herds of livestock. Thus, the art of crafting Namda using sheep wool was handed down form fathers to sons. Rolling and felting sheep wool with his father as a child, Karim did not know that he would become the custodian of a specialty art,” she said.
Dr Preeti exhorted that apart from skill development in competing with machines and mass production, these gifted artisans ought to be trained in onboarding the e-commerce platform by the NGOs, governments. And also, these artisans have now started utilising the skills of women’s embroidery in making laptop bags and scarves in keeping with the fast-changing world with the help of global designers.
Addressing on “Indian Trade Textile :A Journey”, Anjana Somany, Mentor, Textile initiative, said, “Cotton is the god’s gift to the world. Gujarati handloom artisans were adept in employing natural colours and intrinsic designs even during the Indus Valley civilisation. And their products were exported to world over many centuries ago which speak of their acumen in trading.”
FICCI FLO National President Ujjawala Singhania attended the event virtually.
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On this occasion, Nandita Munshaw, Chairperson, FLO Ahmedabad Chapter said, “Our vision has been not only to integrate the weavers with the right market but also to encourage young designers to blend our textiles with their modern perceptions and create highly fashionable and wearable garments thus benefitting designers, weavers and consumers as well as do fashionable justice to our ancient weaves. Friends let’s pledge today to think global but buy Indian and support our weaves and heritage.”
Shilpa Patel, textile initiative head, said, in recent years, powerlooms have usurped handlooms and this is posing to be a huge concern for a country that has a large rural population that depends on khadi weaving for its livelihood.
Past chairpersons & committee members graced this event with their presence while stalwart speakers from the country’s famous textile businesses lent their support on how to take this project to a worldwide level.
This will culminate in a knowledge report to be presented to the Gujarat government proposing favorable policy changes to uplift the weavers, our heritage and our dying crafts.
