Co-optex has been recognised nationally yet again, with the conferment of certificates for ‘outstanding contribution to handloom in terms of production’ and ‘largest handloom producer’ in the country. The certificates were issued on Monday at the Textiles Conclave 2013 – Brand India, organised by the Ministry of Textiles in New Delhi.
The Tamil Nadu Handloom Weaver’s Cooperative Society, Co-optex, has 1,256 cooperative societies and provides livelihood for lakhs of weavers in the State.
This year, the organisation has earned Rs. 121 crore through Deepavali sales. This is around Rs. 20 crore more than last year, said managing director U. Sagayam.
In the next couple of weeks, the organisation will launch a range of bed linen called the ‘Ilakiya’ series. The bed linen will depict scenes from ‘Kalki’ Krishnamurthi’s Tamil novels ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ and ‘Sivakamiyin Sabadam’. Co-optex has also brought out another collection of bedspreads with Tirukkural couplets along with suitable illustrations.
Ahead of the festival season, Co-optex introduced a range of bed linen for children called ‘Kutties’ and another for the marriage season ( ‘honeymoon collection’). Both products have been an instant hit, officials said.
“Handloom is a dying segment and to revive it is a challenge. There may come a time when you may not find weavers. We are doing our best to retain the weavers by offering them as much support as we can,” Mr. Sagayam said.
