From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Meghalaya’s famous handwoven textiles Ryndia and Dakmanda, featuring insights from eminent textile entrepreneurs of the hill state, were showcased in the enchanting “Weave Meghalaya”, shown here on Saturday evening.
The evening commenced with a live tapestry weaving demonstration by Dakti Craft, followed by the opening remarks on the theme “Reviving Tradition, Reimagining Textile.” The evening dedicated to celebrating the rich textile and handloom traditions, the intricate artistry, and heritage was held at Meghalayan Age – The Store. A GI Tag Textile Showcase focused on several eminent artists was also a displayed-on screen during the show. The artistes included Christine G. Momin, Iaishah Rymbai, Lakme K. Marak and James E. Dkhar.
The programme also included a presentation on Heritage Motif Revival highlighting weaving traditions of the Karbi, Khatar Lyngdoh and Raid Nongtluh tribes of Ri-Bhoi District. The session was led by Ridahunlang Gatphoh, Founder & Creative Director of Dakti.
The evening concluded with a panel discussion featuring key voices in the handloom and craft sectors. Through this initiative, Meghalayan Age – The Store reaffirmed its commitment to providing artisans, weavers, and creative practitioners a platform to share their craft with wider audiences, while simultaneously promoting the preservation and resurgence of Meghalaya’s timeless textile traditions.
Meghalaya is home to a community of artisans who create distinctive crafts, and textiles deeply rooted in local culture and tradition. However, these groups have long been unable to command fair value for their work owing to the absence of an appropriate platform to showcase their creations to a wider, less-localised audience.
Meghalayan Age – The Store, inaugurated on December 9, 2021, serves as such a platform, enabling artisans and farmers to access discerning markets. Through this initiative, their products now reach not only the upper echelons of India but also international patrons willing to pay a premium for authentic, high-quality goods.
This generates livelihoods for producers from remote corners of the state while revitalising traditional art forms by enhancing their cultural and economic worth.