Traditional handloom weavers in the State have received a new lease of life with the State government coming up with new initiatives to safeguard their livelihood.
A number of these weavers have visited the seven-day national handloom expo that began in the city on Tuesday.
Handlooms and Textiles Minister O.S.Manian inaugurated the expo at Kalaivanar Arangam in the presence of Textiles Secretary K.Phanindra Reddy and Co-optex Managing Director T.N.Venkatesh on Tuesday.
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“The government has taken initiatives to safeguard the livelihood of traditional weavers,” said Mr.Manian.
Co-optex Managing Director T.N.Venkatesh said about 15 weavers’ families in Sungudi, 40 in Thiruvannamalai, 50 in Karaikudi, 25 in Mayiladuthurai and 15 in Tirunelveli have revived the ancient handloom methods, producing good quality sarees.
The products have been branded as ‘revival sarees.’
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“Sungudi cotton sarees are hand crafted to perfection by skilled artisans of Madurai with ringed dots spread throughout the saree which forms a distinct feature. The craft has a tradition of 500 years. The government has supported such artisans, equipping them to produce the sarees with modern contemporary designs by wax printing method using wooden blocks,” said K.R. Ramkumar, one of the managers of a cooperative society.
“Koorainadu sarees are produced in Koorainadu, a traditional handloom weaving centre near Mayiladudhurai. The sarees have the quality of pure silk. The uniqueness of the saree is its light weight and pin checked patterns,” said C.Raman, another weaver.
Chettinadu cotton sarees produced by weavers of Karaikudi in Sivagangai District and puthinam cotton sarees produced by the skilled weavers in Paramakudi have also been exhibited at the expo.
Tamil Nadu has 2.56 lakh weavers and 1156 cooperative societies.