Demand for handloom growing as a ethical fashion

摘要

When Indian Textiles Minister Smriti Irani tweeted a picture of herself this week in an electric-blue silk saree with the hashtag #IWearHandloom, her tweet was favourited more than 10,000 times and retweeted 4,000 times. Hundreds responded to Irani's request to post pictures of themselves in hand-loom apparel, including politicians, actors, athletes, models and designers, ahead of National Handloom Day on Aug. 7, to celebrate the humble hand-woven fabric. A symbol of India's freedom struggle, handloom attire was once regarded as fit only for politicians and villagers.