Birla Cellulose Expands Handloom Fibre Initiative Across Indian Weaving Clusters

Sustainable Cellulosic Fibres Open New Avenues for Traditional Handloom Products

Birla Cellulose is supporting the integration of sustainable cellulosic fibres into India’s handloom sector through programmes focused on yarn seeding, technical assistance, product development and market access. The initiative enables handloom clusters to work with Livaeco™ Viscose, Livaeco™ Modal and Livaeco™ Lyocell alongside traditional fibres, creating fabrics that retain regional craftsmanship while addressing changing requirements for comfort, affordability and sustainability.

Supporting Fibre Innovation in Traditional Weaving

India’s handloom sector has traditionally depended on cotton and silk yarns. Fluctuations in their price and availability, along with changing consumer buying patterns, have increased the need for consistent access to high-quality input materials.

Birla Cellulose is addressing this requirement by facilitating the adoption of man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF), including viscose, modal and lyocell. These fibres can be blended with traditional yarns or used independently to develop handloom fabrics with softness, drape, comfort and sustainability characteristics while maintaining the visual and artisanal qualities associated with handwoven textiles.

The programme incorporates several interventions beyond fibre adoption. These include yarn seeding programmes, technical assistance for dyeing and product development, product testing and supply mechanisms that enable weavers to access smaller quantities of yarn. Cone-to-hank conversion facilities have also been introduced to simplify the adoption process at the weaver level.

Programme Expands Across Handloom Clusters

Assam served as the first pilot hub for the initiative, providing a framework that has subsequently been extended to other parts of India. The programme now covers Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, with participation from organisations including ARTFED, KHAMIR, the Kutch Weavers Association and various state-supported handloom societies.

The initiative includes product development based on regional weaving traditions. Examples include Silk x Livaeco™ Modal Chanderi fabrics in Madhya Pradesh and Banarasi blends incorporating Livaeco™ Modal and Livaeco™ Lyocell in Varanasi.

Birla Cellulose and SADHAC Sign MoU in Odisha

Birla Cellulose has also entered into a strategic collaboration with the State Agency for Development of Handloom Cluster (SADHAC), Odisha, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on developing innovative handloom fabrics using Livaeco™ Lyocell.

The collaboration is intended to develop premium handloom textiles by combining Lyocell fibre with traditional handloom yarns. It seeks to enable artisans in Odisha and beyond to retain the authenticity and aesthetics of regional weaving traditions while incorporating enhanced comfort, versatility and sustainability.

The partnership is designed to create additional design, product development and market opportunities for handloom clusters across Odisha while strengthening the value proposition of handcrafted textiles.

The MoU was formalised in the presence of Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department, Government of Odisha. The collaboration focuses on sustainable fibre innovation and the development of environmentally responsible fabrics that combine traditional textile heritage with contemporary requirements.

More Than 7,000 Weavers Trained

The programme has expanded its engagement across multiple states and weaving centres. More than 150 micro-meets and hub engagements have been conducted across Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

The initiative has added over 80 partners and trained approximately 7,000 weavers. Its footprint now extends across multiple weaving districts and production centres, with nearly 3,500 tonnes of fibre and yarn being consumed annually within the handloom ecosystem through these efforts.

Statement from Birla Cellulose

Manmohan Singh, Chief Marketing Officer, Birla Cellulose, says:

“Our partnerships represent a sustainable & high growth opportunity for small scale enterprises. By combining traditional weaving excellence with fibre innovation, weavers are able to harness the innovate faster, diversify offerings & are able to cater to the changing consumer preferences with greater agility.”

The initiative forms part of Birla Cellulose’s efforts to support domestic textile value chains by connecting fibre innovation with traditional handloom production. The programme focuses on creating opportunities for artisans while introducing fibres aligned with changing market expectations.