Why Handloom?

The textile industry is the #1 polluter of the world’s waterways and the #2 source of greenhouse gases on Earth.

Instead of contributing to the problem, by using handloom we are looking to the past for answers to enhance our global textile industry while minimizing our environmental impact.

Why Choose Handloom?

A typical cotton shirt goes through 20 processes. Indigo Handloom fabrics only go through five. We clean the yarn, dye it using a low impact azo-free dye, ‘fix’ the color using a toner. Then once it is on the loom, we use a starch made with rice to make it a little stiff so it can be woven.  Then once the fabric is finished, we wash it with a mild detergent and add fabric softener if needed.

 Luxury Without The Chemicals

Since we are not putting on excessive chemicals to make the yarn machine-ready, we don't have to put excessive chemicals on our yarn to make it soft. The fibers are naturally soft as nature intended. 

• Our cotton is softer because they are hand-spun, not because of a chemical wash.
• Our products provide a richer hand feel because the fibers are allowed to act in their natural state. They are not manipulated.
• Each of our products is woven in a delicate and meticulous manner.

Minimal Carbon Footprint

It takes 132 million metric tons of coal to power all the plants that produce fabric for the world. In contrast, making handloom cloth doesn’t need to consume even one piece of coal. Handloom is done without electricity or emissions.

• The carbon footprint of handloom is so small that it is practically immeasurable. It simply takes the creative energy and handwork of our talented artisans.

 

Skill Preservation

The art of handloom is an ancient hand skill that has been passed down for generations and is threatened of being phased out in modern society. Some of the most beautiful textile arts rely on the handloom and cannot be employed by machine. Indigo Handloom fabrics are made with real ikat and batik relief-dying techniques as well as artful jacquard, jamdani and kantha ornamentation. Our designs speak to another age when items made by hand were highly coveted.

 

Social Impact

An overwhelming amount of weavers in India currently live in poverty. Since 2003, we have supported community development in India by working with over 500 weavers in the country’s rural villages to help maintain the livelihoods of weavers and their families. We hope to revive handloom by making these one-of-a-kind textiles accessible to the American market.