Weaverstory.com, which works intensively to revive Indian handlooms, is thriving in the virtual world. Started by Nishant Malhotra, Weaverstory today has a huge number of followers. The portal will be in the city as part of Mithila’s second-anniversary celebrations on January 18 and 19.
“Weaverstory was started in 2015 on National Handloom Day,” says Nishant. “The aim was to promote handloom from different weaving clusters of India. We saw there was demand and the supply was less. We also felt that handloom was not accessible to all and neither was the weaver getting his due, profits were lost to the middlemen. Our endeavour has encouraged the next generation of weavers to return to weaving. The idea is to sell what they make and also market their products extensively,” explains Nishant, who adds that they got the women involved in the making and production.
“We started with a Facebook page, which now has almost 3 lakh people who connect to us and weavers on a daily basis.” According to Nishant, “Anyone who discusses a colour scheme or a weave also has his own story to tell about the handlooms. Everyone knows a Banarasi or Chanderi, but each has his or her own interpretation – the way they look at it, the weaves, colour schemes or motifs. The other beauty about our handloom is that every State and weaver has his distinct style when it comes to weaving, colour and execution. That is the story we want to share with people through our platform.”
Nishant quit his corporate job to follow his dream of promoting handlooms. “It was the human touch that triggered off this passion,” he says.
Weaverstory now not only works on reviving and marketing traditional crafts and textiles but is also associated with over 150 craftspersons, which include dyers and weavers.”
Weaverstory will be showcasing its latest Banarasi, Chanderi and Patola saris with lehengas, suits sets and dupattas. The collection is made from malda silk with Moonga silk saris and kora and cotton.
Saris start at Rs 5,000 and will be on sale at Mithila, Residency Road on January 18 and 19 from 10.30 am to 7.30 pm. Call 22242422.
