Shimla: Efforts to sustain the states handloom sector has found support in the response the hand made products are getting from online shoppers, something which the state corporation forayed into only six months back. There was always a demand for Himachali handicrafts but availability was limited to sales outlets located with the state and some [...]

Shimla: Struggling to keep float, the Himachal Handicraft and Handloom Corporation got into online marketing of its inventory of products ranging from Kullu and Kinnauri Shawls, Kangra paintings, Chamba Rumals, caps metalware, jewelry and wood carvings by launching an e-shopping (http://himcrafts.com/) facility today. Speaking on the occasion, Kishan Kapoor, the minister for handloom and handicrafts [...]

Shimla: To enable the traditional weavers community to access better health facilities, the Himachal cabinet today decided to enhance cover under health insurance cover for handloom weavers under Handloom Weaver Comprehensive Welfare Scheme. The beneficiary weaver shall be eligible to spend upto Rs 7,500 per annum on their treatment in any of the hospitals or [...]

Kulu shawls, once the pride of Himachal, face a major threat from powerloom weavers of Ludhiana. The industry needs a strong influx of revenue. Privatisation and increased market accessibility are areas that should be targeted. Reviving the ailing industry would also give a boost to the state economy. THE tradition of making the famous Kulu [...]

Shimla: To even out the challenges posed by synthetic yarns and keep the primacy of Himachali woollens, the government has launched two projects for sheep breeders to improve the genetic stock of animals and obtain better quality of wool. Two projects worth Rs 9.41 crore under the integrated wool development program have been launched for [...]

In a significant development, My Himachal an NGO with the help students of S.P.Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai has come up with proposed implementation plan to revive the crumbling Kullu Handloom Industry. It is in fact, now in the hand of state government to take the plan seriously and try to do something [...]

Stalled Saviour A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin. The use of a GI acts as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin. Geographical indications have proved to be [...]

Kullu: As outlined in our previous article, “The Kullu handloom industry of Himachal – The need for privatization”, one of the immediate tasks at hand is the setting up of a sustainable supply chain which will eventually lead to the long term revival of this industry. By expanding the hand-woven textile market we can preserve [...]

Over the years, the Kullu – Manali twin towns have become a favourite spot amongst honeymooners. Apart from the scenic beauty that the valleys offer, Kullu is also famous for its hand woven shawls. Tourists having come here realize the true worth of this incumbent industry and then decide to purchase a few of these [...]

Shimla: The state government is soon to implement various sponsored schemes for the upliftement of weavers. The Industries Department would also be implementing the ‘Handicraft Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme’, which aims at providing insurance cover with enhanced insurance benefits and better health facilities to handicraft weavers, an official spokesman said. Giving details, he said that [...]

Weaving has been the mainstay of every Kullu-ite’s livelihood for generations now. A month long study by Anoop H, Shilpa Kendre, Jyothsna Sekar, Shilpi Baral from SP Jain Institute of Management of Research (Mumbai) in association with My Himachal reveals startling facts on the health of the traditional Kullu weaving industry. The advent of technology [...]

You never know what you have been missing until it arrives. This adage can’t be more apt than for the weavers here. The folks in this valley are just plain contented. Either they have very little aspirations or very high levels of self satisfaction. According to the 1995 census, Kullu district had 28,500 weavers. 12 [...]

The scenic landscapes of Kullu beckon avid travellers to visit the hinterlands of this small town. Shopping does take a top priority on the itinerary of these tourists who come from all across the globe. It is observed that most foreign tourists acquaint themselves to the location by investing a great deal of time in [...]

For tourists from across the globe, the hilly terrain of Manali-Shimla is a shoppers’ paradise for woollens. The heart of the weaving industry is in the small town of Kullu, 40Kms away from Manali. As one enters this scenic valley, colourful traditional Kullu shawls dot the sideways of every market street and one can see [...]

The campaign will carry a series of articles dedicated to the Traditional Kullu Shawl Weaving industry. The art of weaving is a part of the Kullu tradition and pride. Many here believe this art would die with the turn of the generation, as it is no longer considered lucrative by the locals. In our efforts [...]

SAVE THE WEAVER …help him weave colour into his life again Are we crucifying Art at the altar of Technology? Are the benefits of development restricted only to those at the top of the pyramid? Are those at the grass root level being exploited? Do we as consumers bestow enough faith in the genuineness of [...]

Utter the name Kullu and most people would say Shawls. Shawl making is an age old tradition, a heritage, a rich legacy that has been passed over from generation to generation in this wonderful valley. The hand made Kullu shawls are known to be vibrant in colours, rich in designs and is guaranteed to keep [...]