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UNESCO showcases the transformative potential of India鈥檚 handloom and handicraft industries at Bharat Tex 2025
UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India took part in the Bharat Tex 2025 which was held from 14-17 February 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. As one of India's top textile fairs, the event celebrated the diversity and craftsmanship of Indian textiles - spanning the entire value chain from raw materials to finished products, while also emphasizing the handicrafts industry's commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
A key dialogue on crafts, sustainability, and livelihoods
UNESCO curated a panel discussion titled " Crafts and Sustainability: Safeguarding Tradition, Promoting Livelihoods鈥, focusing on the economic dimensions of safeguarding the handloom industry while addressing the sector鈥檚 evolving challenges. The discussion was chaired by Ms. Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), who provided valuable insights into the challenges the government encounters in implementing policies for the handloom and handicraft sectors.
Commerce is the essence. Sustainability is not a new concept for India; it has deep roots in our traditions. From nature worship which has been mentioned in our oldest texts, the Vedas, to the way our crafts are woven into the fabric of socio-economic continuity, sustainability has always been inherent in our culture. Our crafts have always respected the balance that is at the heart of sustainability鈥攂eing conscious and ethical, comes natural to us. However, with the decline of royal patronage after independence, artisans have struggled to earn a livelihood, often compromising on traditional practices to survive, making this discussion on Commerce and Economic Livelihoods extremely relevant today.
The session highlighted best practices and successful initiatives from Khamir, AHEAD Initiatives, Sarba Shanti Ayog and 11.11 clothing, showcasing how these organizations have effectively tackled industry challenges and fostered sustainable growth within the handloom sector. It also brought together domain experts from the finance and marketing sectors who collaborated on innovative solutions for the challenges faced by local communities. The key takeaways from the session included the potential for developing cluster-centric financial instruments to support artisan network; the importance of R&D in creating unique products and increasing access to affordable technology; and the need for professional marketing, certification, and traceability to enhance the sector鈥檚 sustainability and global appeal.
While India鈥檚 Domestic Market is vast, consumer awareness about ethical sourcing and sustainability remains limited. This combined with the absence of integrated production systems, inconsistent supply of raw materials like organic cotton, silk, and natural dyes, and limited access to modern weaving tools, finishing techniques, and quality testing infrastructure disrupts production efficiency and scalability in handloom clusters.
Showcasing UNESCO鈥檚 Rural Crafts and Cultural Hubs Project
At the UN Pavillion, UNESCO highligted its Rural Crafts and Cultural Hubs Project, an initiative in partnership with the Department of MSME&T, Government of West Bengal, to revive indigenous skills, and preserve cultural heritage. The Project has successfully empowered over 50,000 artists and artisans across 20 districts, spanning 35 traditional art forms including music, oral traditions, performing and visual arts and crafts.
The pavilion celebrated indigenous craftsmanship and sustainable fashion featuring a curated selection of 60 unique products from Bengal鈥檚 diverse clusters such as Kantha, Dhokra and Kenjakura, and an immersive installation reflecting the journey of Indian weavers from traditional craftsmanship to contemporary art practices.
Through this initiative, UNESCO continues to safeguard Intangible Cultural Heritage, ensuring that traditional skills are preserved, adapted, and celebrated as for future generations.
Bharat Tex 2025 attracted policymakers and global CEOs, over 5000 Exhibitors, 6000 international buyers from over 120 countries among various other visitors. It also featured a global scale conference featuring over 70 conference sessions, roundtables, panel discussions, and master classes. The exhibitions featured Special Innovation and Start up Pavilions.
