On 30th March, the students of JD Institute of Fashion Technology got an opportunity to learn about Indian crafts and textiles through a field visit to the National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, New Delhi. 18 students from the UG Fashion Design 2020 batch got the chance to experience the essence and craftsmanship associated with the indigenous crafts of India. In order to make them understand the very roots of these textiles, Ms. Bharti Mishra accompanied the Jediiians for the day. Being a faculty of Textile Design and an industry expert, her expertise in Indian crafts and textiles helped the students understand the laborious process behind the Indian weaves and grasp the scope of the heritage textiles.  

The primary motive of the museum visit was to give the students knowledge about the textile and crafts of each state of India. This visit added to their knowledge by exposing them to the world of indigenous masterpieces. Students learned many things ranging from how weaving is tone, to how long it takes to make one carpet. They even learned the real story behind each craft. What made this field visit even more special was their interaction with the artisans wherein they discussed the history of the craft and the inspiration behind each motif/weave. The interaction between the JD students and the sellers of each state selling their art and textile was a highlight of this crafts museum visit. 

The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum is also known as the National Crafts Museum and Hastkala Academy. This museum celebrates the diverse and rich craft history of India. The museum has a collection of more than 33,000 specimens of various indigenous crafts which were collected over a span of 60 years. Crafts from several states such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, etc. are displayed in the museum. An array of Indian textiles are being displayed in the museum. From various prints to the different embroidery techniques, the visitors of the museum can witness the craftsmanship, of the array of masterpieces displayed in the museum. 

Jediiians’ visit to the National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum proved to be fruitful as it added to their knowledge of Indan heritage weaves and textiles. Giving them an insight into the rich textile history of our country. As the Indian weaves are making it to the global platforms and Indian fashion is getting recognition in the international space, learning the true essence of our roots becomes imperative. Keeping with this belief, the students reveled in the enlightenment of Indian crafts and textiles. 

As the visit to The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum came to end, the students gleamed with a better understanding of the Indian crafts and textiles. With a finer grasp on Indian handloom, we hope these budding designers bring a new dawn to the Indian fashion industry.