Project Overview
The project was undertaken to address livelihood sustainability, quality improvement, and market access challenges faced by handloom weavers in the Shivamogga region. Implemented under the SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries) framework, the initiative aimed to consolidate existing weaving practices while introducing natural dyeing, value addition, and organised production systems.
Duration: The project was implemented over three financial years (2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22)
Vision
To develop the Sagar handloom region into a state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind cluster for naturally dyed handwoven textiles, managed by local weavers and supported by strong market linkages thereby ensuring long-term livelihood security for artisans in the region .
Scale and Coverage
- Approximately 450 weavers were engaged within the cluster
- The intervention covered weaving, dyeing, and value-added processes across the Shivamogga region
Objectives
The project aimed to:
- Strengthen livelihood security through targeted skill development
- Improve fabric quality, including the development of finer counts (2/80s) suitable for bulk and organised markets
- Introduce natural dyeing as a standardised production practice
- Enable value addition through block printing in natural dyes and Kasuthi embroidery for garment production
- Reduce the gap between production capabilities and market demand through design interventions
- Explore wider market opportunities, including overseas markets, for naturally dyed handwoven textiles
Implementation Approach
The cluster followed an integrated development approach that combined:
- Skill training and capacity building
- Design development aligned with market requirements
- Organised production planning and workflow coordination
- Formation and strengthening of women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to manage decentralised production with collective oversight
This approach enabled operational consistency while allowing weavers to function within locally managed institutional structures.
Outcomes
The project contributed to:
- Independent operation of women-centric SHGs
- More effective utilisation of local skills and resources
- Reported improvement in weavers’ earnings, supporting livelihood stability
- Increased production of pure handloom and naturally dyed textiles
- Establishment of quality benchmarks that support wider replication of natural dye-based handloom production