PATNA: Weavers of Bihar’s Biharsharif, who rued their lot till recently, are going places with Okhla-headquartered Fab India procuring their products to sell in its chain of upmarket handloom stores across the country.
The first such order came in March this year for 7,500 metres of Eco Stripe fabric in seven different colours. “The order was worth Rs 4.5 lakh,” state Women Development Corporation (WDC)’s chief handloom consultant Purushottam Prakash told TOI and added 50-odd women associated with the Biharsharif Hast Shilp Mahila Bunkar Swawalambi Sahkari Samiti benefited as their skills caught Fab’s fancy.
The corporation is now in receipt of Fab’s approval for the new samples sent in two colours, beige and rust. Fish has been chosen as the central motif for all these products. “The fresh order is likely for home furnishings like curtains, bedsheets, cushion covers and other upholstery items,” a visibly happy Prakash said.
Prakash’s __ and, for that matter, the weavers’ __ joys are not misplaced faced as the industry has been with many an odd. One, the industry is quite like a cottage industry, scattered here and there. There is also shortage of skilled labour. The looms are few and in disrepair.
“The weaving process itself is complicated. One bedsheet takes at least a day to be completed as the designs are crafted manually,” a weaver said and added they have to be extra cautious about the quality even if it means compromising on quantity.
Odds notwithstanding, products of these weavers evoke tremendous response at national fairs. “For example, these products were a big draw at the India International Trade Fair in New Delhi and the National Cooperative Fair in Jaipur,” WDC’s marketing manager Sudeep Choudhary said. According to him, talks are underway with the Central Cottage Industries Corporation, under the Union ministry of textiles, for a supply order for bedsheets.
“We also supply bedsheets to all the government hospitals in Bihar,” Choudhary said and added WDC has received an order for supply of 14,020 pieces of sarees for ASHA (Aids & Sexual Health Awareness) workers.
As for the rich tradition of Biharsharif, experts recalled, these weavers supplied curtains for the Rashtrapati Bhavan when Deshratna Dr Rajendra Prasad occupied the erstwhile Viceregal Lodge designed by Lutyens. Their products had a large market even in Germany, experts said and rued that the overbearing presence of middlemen virtually led to a silent death of the industry.
“We had to restart with only five to six families, who had stuck to the art of weaving,” Choudhary said.
Read more: Bihar women skills catch upmarket brand’s fancy – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Bihar-women-skills-catch-upmarket-brands-fancy/articleshow/7174748.cms#ixzz19RNSYOdv