Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 16: Woven Whispers: Craft to Commerce, a landmark celebration of India’s handloom legacy and its evolution into a sustainable economic force, was held today at the National Crafts Museum, New Delhi.
The event was organized by FICCI FLO, under the leadership of its National president Poonam Sharma, in partnership with the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, and the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI).
The FICCI FLO leadership and organizing team comprised Smriti Puri, Ambar Paridhi, Dr Ritu Singh, Ritu Vadehra, Sunitee Abbi, Suguna Ravichandran, Saloni Mehta, Nidhi Goel, Namrata Mishra, Ritika Sarna, Ritu Singhal and Anjali Aggarwal.
The programme was graced by the chief guest, Mrs Nadda, and witnessed the presence of several Ambassadors and senior diplomatic representatives.
Woven Whispers showcased the seamless integration of traditional weaving techniques with contemporary design, innovation and market access. The initiative focused on empowering women artisans and weavers, strengthening artisan livelihoods and fostering meaningful collaborations between craft clusters, designers, industry leaders, policymakers and global stakeholders.
A key highlight of the programme was an insightful panel discussion that brought together leaders and practitioners shaping India’s handloom ecosystem. The panel featured Jeyasree Ravi, Founder, Palam Silks (Nalli Sarees); Isha Manchanda, Textile Specialist, Good Earth; Gunjan Jain, Textile Designer and Founder, Vriksh; Manish Saksena, Business Lead, Aadyam Handwoven (Aditya Birla Group); and Rta Kapur Chishti, Sari Historian and Textile Scholar.
The dialogue explored women-led innovation, sustainability, market access and the economic future of handloom clusters, offering valuable insights into building resilient, scalable, and ethically grounded craft-based enterprises.
Sunil Sethi headed FDCI curated a distinguished fashion showcase that re-imagined Indian handlooms through modern silhouettes while preserving their cultural authenticity and ethical value.
The event brought together eminent leaders from governance, media, entrepreneurship, culture, and design. Distinguished guests included Dr Rashmi Singh, IAS; Rani Archana Kumari Singh, Badnore; Anuradha Prasad; Ratan Kaul; Anshu Khanna; Raseshwari; Mamatha Venkatesh and Isha Manchanda.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
