You Need to know About Handloom Cotton Fabric

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In Handloom Fabrics Handloom refers to wooden frames of different types which are used by skilled artisans to weave fabrics usually from natural fibers like Cotton, Silk, Wool, Jute etc.  It is a cottage industry where the entire family is involved in the production of cloth. Right from spinning the yarn, coloring, to weaving on the loom if done by them. Fabric produced from these looms is also referred to as Handloom.

Basically, a loom that is used to weave the cloth without any use of electricity is called as a ‘handloom’. These looms are generally located in weaver’s homes and are done on frame looms or pit looms. It is done by interweaving of the warp and the weft threads, i.e., the one that is thrown across and the other that is woven respectively. The loom is the equipment that facilitates this interlacing. The handloom fabric is comfortable, durable, and soft because of the human-handling of the yarn in the process of weaving. In comparison to the mill made cotton, the handloom cotton fabric is well-known for its breathability. This fabric is softer, cooler and more absorbent allowing more air penetration. That is why it keeps one warm in winters and cooler in summers.

The tools required for this entire process are made from wood, sometimes bamboo and they do not require any electricity to run them. The entire process of fabric production was totally manual in earlier times. Thus, this is the most eco-friendly way of producing clothes.

Indian Handloom dates back to the Indus valley civilization. Even in ancient times, Indian fabrics were exported, Rome, Egypt and China.

In earlier times, almost every village had its own weavers who made all the clothing requirements needed by the villagers like sarees, dhotis, etc. Some areas where it is cold in winter there were specific wool weaving centers. But everything was Hand-Spun and Hand-Woven.

Traditionally, the entire process of cloth making was self-reliant. The cotton / silk / wool came from the farmers, foresters or shepherds, and the cotton was cleaned and transformed by weavers themselves or agricultural labor community.  Small handy instruments were used in the process, including the famous spinning wheel (also known as Charkha), mostly by women. This hand spun yarn was later made into cloth on the handloom by the weavers.

1. What is HANDLOOM?

A HANDLOOM is a loom use for weaving fabric with hand.

2. What is a LOOM?

A loom is a device use for weaving fabric. A loom, holds the warp threads under tension and facilitate the interweaving of the weft threads.

3. What is WEAVING?

Weaving is the interlacing of two sets of yarn – the warp (length) and the weft (width).

4. What are the different types of looms?

There are three basic types of looms:

Pit looms

Stand loom

Frame looms

And these looms are mostly located at the weavers houses itself.

Since 1985, and especially post 90’s liberalization, handloom sector had to face competition from cheap imports, and design imitations from power looms.

In addition, government funding and policy protection also declined drastically. Also, the cost of natural fiber yarn has increased tremendously. In comparison to artificial fiber, the cost of natural fabric has gone up. This makes it unaffordable for the common people. But the wages of handloom weavers have remained frozen for the past decade or two.

Unable to compete with cheaper poly-mixed fabrics, many weavers are quitting weaving and going for unskilled labor work. And many have been reduced to extreme poverty.

Handloom is a beautiful fabric and special as no two fabrics can be alike. Of course, the output depends on the skill set of the weaver. But even if we make two weavers with similar skills weave the same fabric it will be different in one way or the other. Each fabric is a reflection of the weaver’s moods – when a weaver is angry the fabric would be little tight while it would be losing when he is sad. Thus, each piece is unique in itself.

In India there are different styles of weaving in different parts of the country, and sometimes in the same region there could be as wide a range as 20- 30 varied styles.  From simple plain fabrics, Tribal motifs, geometric designs, tye and dye, to exhaustive art on muslin. Our weavers have been master craftspeople. No other country can boast of such exclusive wide range of rich textile art, even today.

Just like paintings and photographs, each woven sari is a masterpiece. Saying that handloom must perish for its time consuming and laborious compared to power loom, is like saying painting, photography, clay modelling will go obsolete because of 3d printers and graphic designs.

You can Buy the best Handloom Cotton fabric online at Tirumala Designers. Tirumala Designer Pvt Ltd, Mumbai proudly houses the largest range of Fabrics, Sarees, Lehenga Cholis, Sarees, Salwar-kameez, Kurtas and Unstitched Suits That Customers Can Choose From. The Different Range of Fabrics Found Here Include Brasso, Chanderi Cotton, Chanderi, Chemical Lace, Chiffon, Coding, Cotton, Cotton Tissue, Crepe, Crush, Cut Work and Crochet, Cut Work and Sequins, Georgette, Glitter Net, Imported Jacket Brocket, Imported Jute, Imported Jaipur Jute, Laces, Leather, Lycra, Net Sequin and Net Chantey to Name A Few. The Lehenga Cholis Here Come in The Form of Different Designs and Prices, Ranging from Bridal Lehengas to Lehengas For Sangeet And Mehndi Functions. All Of the Sarees Offered Here Range from Bollywood Sarees, Bridal Sarees, Designer Sarees, Embroidered Sarees, Half Sarees, Handloom Sarees, Occasion Sarees, Party Wear Sarees, Silk Sarees, Wedding Sarees and Zari Sarees Among Others. The Salwar Kameez Ranges from Anarkali Suits, Evening Gowns, Palazzos and Straight Fits.

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