Bengaluru’s upcoming Naturally Dyed Handmade Festival celebrates khadi and natural dyes
The Naturally Dyed Handmade Festival is launching in Bengaluru on October 2 to promote sustainable fashion and support rural handloom artisans. Organized by the India Handmade Collective, the event features exhibitions, workshops, and products from 23 brands dedicated to eco-friendly, traditional craftsmanship.
Why it matters
The festival addresses the economic vulnerability of India's 35 lakh handloom workers by connecting them directly with modern consumers and promoting sustainable, climate-conscious livelihoods.
As per the latest All India Handloom Census (2019-20), published by the Ministry of Textiles, India is home to over 35 lakh handloom workers (weavers and allied workers). Approximately 90% of the sector is located in rural areas, with the highest concentrations in Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, and Tamil Nadu. Despite this large concentration of artistic talent in the country, 66.3% of weaving households earn only under ₹5,000 per month.
A participant at an earlier edition of the Festival | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
To help the community gain more visibility, a group of craft enthusiasts from across the country launched India Handmade Collective (IHMC), a ‘nationwide movement and platform dedicated to sustainable clothing, eco-friendly crafts, and community-led celebrations of handmade products’ in 2020. The latest initiative by IMHC is the Naturally Dyed Handmade Festival that launches in Bengaluru on October 2.
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