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Fashion Value Chain
2 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Scope of Research and Innovation in Handloom Textiles
Dr. V. Ramesh Babu, Professor and Head, Department of Textile Technology, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore Abstract The aim of this paper is to explore the scope of Research and Innovation in Handloom Textiles by studying the History of Handloom, Handloom Industry in India, SWOT of Handloom Industry, Handloom clusters in India, Types of Handlooms and Innovation, Handloom startups, Schemes for handlooms and Boosting the handloom sector in India. History of Handloom Figure 1: History of Handlooms Figure 1 shows India has a 5000-year-old Traditional Handloom background, and even in the Vedic period, there is are lot of evidence of the usage of fabrics. In the 2nd Century BC, the literature shows the production of silk and cotton cultivation and fabrics made from it. The East India Company invaded India in the 17th Century for the purchase of Muslin and Jute fabrics for their socking due to rapid industrialisation in Europe. At present, India has an 80% share in the world handloom, which shows its potential and lots of scope to explore the research and innovations in the field of Handloom. Handloom Industry in India Figure 2: Handloom Industry in India Figure 2 shows the features of the Handloom Industry in India, which has a long traditional background spread across the nation of richness and diversity in nature. A recent statistic shows that around 4.3 million people are involved in the Handloom Industry, and apart from agriculture, the Textile Industry is the largest employment provider. A variety of Designs produced in the various clusters of India with its unique Finesse. Present Handloom Industry focusing on the Fusion of old traditional design and manufacturing skills and talents into New ideas and Technological developments. With the above capabilities, the Indian Handloom Industry has a potential of USD 350 million export business. SWOT of Handloom Industry Strength 1/4 th of the world's cotton cultivation happens in India. Handloom products cannot be produced or replicated by Power looms. Skilled/Semi-Skilled and Trainee workforces are deployed in the Handloom sector. Product diversification through clusters. No demand for energy. The cost of products is affordable. Geographical Identifications/IPR and Copyrights of Designs. Weakness Inadequate and a lack of qualitative raw material sources. Lack of Marketing Strategies Poor quality Lack of Innovation in the processes. Political systems Lack of a Code of ethics and Mode of operations. Lack of Integrated Information Technology systems. Opportunities Domestic and Export Markets Government Polices NABARD Fund Banks for Raw material and Designs. Supporting Body WSC, IIHT, NHDC, Textile committee and HEPC etc., Cluster Development Program Welfare schemes for weavers New Textile policy and Handloom Reservation ACT Threats Migration of workers Imitation of products Import of goods Less handloom cloth consumption per person Impact of Liberalization and Globalization. Poor level of cohesion among clusters Handloom Clusters in India Figure 3 shows the Indian Handloom clusters and almost every state has unique products manufactured with tradition and their own skills and design talents. Few are stated below such as Kancheepuram sarees in Tamil Nadu, Balrampuram sarees in Kerala, Ilkal sarees in Karnataka, Pochampalli sarees in Andhra, Ikat sarees in Odisha, Kosa silks in Chhattisgarh, Tussar silk in Jharkand, Jamdani sarees in West Bengal, Pachra sarees in Tirupura, Puanchei in Mizoram, Phanek in Manipura, Aptani in Arunachal Pradesh, Naga Shawls id Nagaland, Muga Silks in Assam, Bhagalpur silk is Bihar, Banarsi sarees in Uttar Pradesh, Lohi shawls in Uttarakand, Kullu Shawls in Himachal Pradesh, Pashmina Shawls in Jammu and Kashmir, Bedsheets in Haryana, Kota sarees in Rajasthan, Chanderi sarees in Madhya Pradesh and Kutch Shawls in Gujarat. Figure 3: Handloom Clusters Types of Handlooms and Innovation Primitive or Vertical Loom Pit Loom: A) Throw Shuttle B) Fly Shuttle. Frame Loom: A) Throw Shuttle B) Fly Shuttle. Chittaranjan Loom Hattersley Loom Innovative Looms Innovation in Handlooms Extra- Weft Insertion for Handloom Design Conventionally, the task of the insertion of weft threads needed to make a variety of designs is done manually by tying knots, which is cumbersome and time-consuming. The thread is also wasted in connecting one motif to another. Deepak's innovative device makes designs in one-third of the time required by the traditional way of making designs. (Fig.4) The device consists of three components: base frame, magnet bearing shaft and a specially designed bobbin. These components can be fitted to any handloom Jacquard machine. The attachment facilitates the Jacquard loom to perform automatic selection and lifting of warp threads for design making. Figure 4: Extra-Weft Insertion for Handloom Design Bi-Fab Handloom Traditionally, the same big loom is used to produce both narrow and wide fabrics. Sadly, not much has been done for reducing the drudgery and fatigue of the weaver by using appropriate technology in the sector and whatever new has been done in this regard, has not become popular among the weavers due to various reasons. Many a times, the new technology developed for handloom is not user-friendly and hence not accepted by the weaver. (Fig.5) Figure 5. Bi-Fab Hand Loom Bi-Fab Loom simultaneously weaves narrow width fabrics like stoles, napkins, and mats leading to efficient and increased production capacity from the handloom weaver. It helps reduce the laborious nature of work and improve labour productivity by doubling production capacity. The edges achieved are neat with complete selvedges on both sides. Handloom Startups The new trend in startups in handlooms sector is most promising in reforming the handloom sector and most of the young entrepreneur coming to the traditional handloom startups which creating the new markets and demands for the handloom products all over the world. The following are the features of handloom startups. Unique Design-Not replicate by Power Loom Low Capital intensive Minimal Power Eco-Friendly Manufacturing Flexible and Versatile Skill-Transform-Generations Make in India Skill India E-Commerce Social-Media Integrating Clusters Consolidation of Handloom ECO System Ethicus Brand Karagiri Inde' Loom Schemes for Handloom Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme Comprehensive Handlooms Development Scheme Revival, Reform and Restructuring Package Yarn Supply Scheme North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme Cluster Development Project in NER Technological Upgradation of Handlooms in NER Market Promotion of Textiles and Handloom Products in NER Handlooms Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana Health Insurance Scheme Enforcement Wing Central assistance for Implementation of the Handlooms (Reservation of the Articles for Production) Act 1985 Boosting the Handloom Sector Digitalization of the Handloom Industry in India MoUs with e-commerce retailers Patenting designs/varieties Infrastructure and Investment Design improvements Free export/import trade – opportunity Enhancement of Value Conclusion The paper conclude that the Indian Handloom Industry has lots of scope in research and innovation and the extra weft insertion device, Bi-Fab looms are sort of developments in Technological aspects of handloom whereas the Startups in the Handlooms such as Ethicus Brand, Karagiri and Inde' Loom etc., set a new trend in the Indian Handloom Industry to reform and re innovate the present industry to boost the Indian handloom sector. References
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- The Hindu
Students of Kumaraguru College of Technology to represent India at Monaco energy boat challenge
Students from Kumaraguru College of Technology have launched YALI 4.0, India's latest student-built alternative energy boat. Designed and developed by Team Sea Sakthi (TSS), YALI 4.0 is set to represent India at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) for the fourth consecutive year, the team's innovation marks a significant step forward in sustainable marine technology. Constructed using eco-friendly balsa wood and flax fiber composites, YALI 4.0 blends traditional Tamil design inspiration, mythical Yali with futuristic marine engineering. The boat is equipped with Yacht OS 2.0 for real-time navigation and features Augmented Reality (AR)glasses for improved pilot safety and precision. In addition to the boat, students also introduced advanced robotic devices that will compete in an international robotics competition. These innovations were unveiled by Commodore Balasundaram of the Indian Navy, who emphasised the importance of environmentally friendly technologies for India's future in sea and river-based transportation. The Central government has allocated ₹10,000 crore towards enhancing port operations and shipbuilding infrastructure, further highlighting the importance of such sustainable student-led initiatives. Team Sea Sakthi will take part in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge scheduled for July 2 to 5.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
‘Manufacturing sector to be the mainstay in India's transition to $ 10 trillion economy'
With India poised to spend substantially on infrastructure in its pursuit to become a $ 10 trillion economy, manufacturing sector would open up huge career opportunities, Jose Falgar, President of Ziplock Electronics, told graduands of Kumaraguru College of Technology in Coimbatore on Saturday. India will strengthen rail, road, airport and port infrastructure for the transformation to happen, as in China, Mr. Falgar said, addressing the 37th Graduation Day ceremony and conferring degrees on graduands of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Computer Science, Electronics and Communication, Electrical and Electronics, Electronics and Instrumentation, Information Science, and Information Technology programmes. The outcome of 'Make in India' initiative in the last decade was remarkable, and industrial growth was happening in Tamil Nadu with incredible resilience. Global Capability Centres were enabling the growth of the engineering sector, Mr. Falgar said. Referring to the all-pervasive AI (Artificial Intelligence) applications, he urged graduands to keep abreast of the developments. Mr. Falgar joined KK Anil Kumar, Principal in-charge, KCT; President of Kumaraguru Institutions Shankar Vanavarayar, and Correspondent M. Balasubramaniam in conferring degrees on the graduands. Presiding over, Mr. Shankar Vanavarayar underscored the imperative need for the graduands to keep up-skilling and re-skilling with a sense of responsibility in the coming decades in the trajectory of India's growth path. In the second session, degrees were conferred on graduands of Automobile, Biotechnology, Civil, Fashion Technology, Mechanical, Mechatronics and Textile Technology programmes, by Narayan Sethuramon, Managing Director of Sanmar Engineering Technologies Pvt. Ltd., and Sanmar Matrix Metals Ltd. 'Career paths may often diverge from original plans. Be open to international experiences, cross-sector opportunities, and constant reinvention,' Mr. Sethuramon advised the graduands. He emphasised on embracing new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, as collaborators. The measure of true success was impacting society with integrity, not wealth generation alone, he added. A total 1,361 students received their degrees in the two sessions.
