Chennai, Aug 11:
Handloom products must be taken to younger generations by combining their traditional uniqueness with contemporary designs and technology, Handlooms Minister Vijay Balaji said on Tuesday.
He was speaking after witnessing a handloom fashion show organised jointly by Co-optex and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at the institute’s campus in Taramani on the occasion of the 12th National Handloom Day.
The fashion show showcased handloom garments and sarees distinctive to different regions of Tamil Nadu, presenting their traditional craftsmanship, uniqueness and aesthetic appeal through contemporary styles.
Addressing the gathering, Balaji said the government was committed to giving greater importance to the handloom sector and improving the livelihood and quality of life of weavers.
He said that when he, along with the department secretary and senior officials, met Chief Minister Vijay and requested him to participate in a handloom exhibition, the Chief Minister readily agreed and attended the event as a “friend of weavers”.
The Minister recalled that the Chief Minister had also appreciated the theme pavilion created by NIFT students at the handloom exhibition.
“Co-optex is not being run merely as a business enterprise. Its purpose is to improve the livelihood and quality of life of weavers,” Balaji said.
He urged NIFT students to use new technologies, innovative designs and contemporary approaches to support weavers and help improve their economic prospects.
“The younger generation must become a bridge between traditional handloom craftsmanship and today’s technology, helping our weavers move towards a better future,” he said.