EDII Hosts Handloom Fashion Show and Industry Roundtable in Ahmedabad
Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, with support from HSBC, organised a handloom-focused event under the HandMade in India (HMI) initiative on 19th February 2026. The programme brought together industry representatives, designers, experts and artisan communities to highlight India’s handloom traditions and discuss future sector development.
The event, held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the EDII campus in Ahmedabad, included an Industry Round Table Meet on the theme ‘Quality Assurance and Brand Building in India’s Handloom Sector.’ The roundtable provided a forum for participants from industry, academia, government and grassroots enterprises to exchange views on quality standards, brand development, market competitiveness and the creation of sustainable value chains aimed at supporting artisan livelihoods.
A handloom fashion presentation titled ‘Threads of Heritage’ was also organised under the HandMade in India initiative. The show traced the evolution of handloom from traditional practices to contemporary design, featuring sustainable collections developed by weavers from Bhuj (Gujarat) and Erode (Tamil Nadu). The two segments, ‘Heritage Hues: Handloom Revival’ and ‘Handloom: The Original Sustainable Fashion,’ showcased traditional weaving methods, natural dyes, eco-friendly materials and modern design adaptations.
Speaking at the event, Ashish Tripathi, CEO & Head, HSBC IBU, said, “HSBC is glad to be associating with EDII on this highly significant project which directly aimed at addressing the unorganised and dispersed nature of the handloom sector, so that its inherent strengths could be honed and tapped to attain unparalleled growth. Hearteningly, the artisans have learnt best practices and the ways of turning their businesses into profit-making, growth-oriented enterprises.”
Commenting on the initiative, Sunil Shukla, Director General, said, “We are committed to strengthening artisan livelihoods with entrepreneurship development practices. Through the HandMade in India project, we are working with handloom communities across India to strengthen their skills, sustainability practices and market opportunities. Today’s Fashion show will reflect the outcomes of this effort, bringing out how traditional handlooms can adapt to modern lifestyles while continuing to support sustainable livelihoods. It’s time that the remarkable craftsmanship of our artisan clusters from Bhuj and Erode caught the attention of the people at large.”
Sharing his views, Raman Gujral, Project Director, HandMade in India & Director, Dept. of CSR partnerships, EDII, said, “India’s handloom is not just about textiles — it represents our heritage, our identity, and the livelihoods of millions of artisan families. At the same time, we know that today’s markets are changing rapidly, and expectations around quality, consistency, and branding are higher than ever before. The project Handmade in India, addressed these factors and bridged the gap between the markets, products and the artisans.”
The initiative aims to support sustainable livelihoods, preserve traditional knowledge and improve market access for artisan communities, while reinforcing the role of handloom within the contemporary economy.