Microsoft launches e-commerce portal for Telangana’s handloom weavers

[snoww]

Hyderabad: Weavers in the State are now writing a new page in their chequered history. They are now trying out new designs using CAD, which has been so far used by the architects and engineers for designing the structures, through a programme called Project ReWeave. By doing this, they are able to cut the time spent for making the designs manually and use the same to focus on weaving more.

For instance Yalagundula Narsimha, who hails from Pochampally, is one of the weavers who have completed the training. “We are now able to understand the contemporary design needs. There was the initial inertia of getting acquainted with a computer. But we are now confident of rising to the market demands,” he says. He was one of the many who have come to Hyderabad to take course completion certificate at the NIFT.

 

Peakcock, parrot and lotus continue to be dominant in the Pochampally designs. But it is the design combinations that are changing a lot, says Markandeya, another weaver.

The training aims to cover all the family members to ensure there is complete knowledge transfer.

Anusha and Amrutha, from the younger generation, too say that adding a technology dimension is adding life to the craft. In a freehand design, Anusha tells, a design would take seven or more hours. But with the aid of a computer, it is being done in a two hours. Moreover, with the designs templates saved repeat use becomes much easier.

For marketing the products with new designs, an e-commerce portal re-weave.in is also up and ready. “We will soon come to a phase where buyers will be able to trace the products to weavers. This will allow for a healthy feedback to the weavers,” said Chitra Sood, Director, Business Management, Microsoft India (R &D).

The efforts have helped see a rise in the annual income of the weavers in the three weaver clusters that the project is being implemented, she said. Barring packing and delivery charges, most of the sale proceedings will to the weavers, she said.

The three-month training programme, in which software giant Microsoft, fashion institute NIFT and NGO Chaitanya Bharati along with Government of Telangana are partners, is making the weavers confident about the new design possibilities.

NIFT has helped in curating the special curriculum for the – CAD and colour for handloom weaving’ to provide digital training in handloom design. Project ReWeave aims to help the weavers with working capital also. Weavers are trained in the use of natural dyes and enable them make newer and sustainable handwoven products.

Industries Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said Telangana was giving yarn subsidy and also offered buyback facility along with an insurance scheme. “The handloom crafts from the State are famous for their designs and colours. We wanted to give a digital push that allows the weavers to be come up with contemporary products yet maintain their legacy,” he said.

Training is being offered Naryanpet, Rajole, Poochampally. Warangal and Siddipet will be covered soon. Ranjan asked the organisers to extend the moduel to Gadwal as well.

[snoww]

Great initiative by Microsoft 

[snoww]

re-weave.in

[snoww]

Just now, snoww said:

re-weave.in

https://www.re-weave.in/new-arrivals.html

[snoww]

 

[Idassamed]