More than just fabric, handloom carries India’s history, craftsmanship, and future. Fashion enthusiast and creator Prerna Shetty reflects on why India’s weaving traditions continue to inspire her and why preserving them matters now more than ever.
When people ask me how I got interested in fashion history, they’re usually surprised to hear that it wasn’t something I actively chose. It was a compulsory subject in college, one that every fashion student had to study. At the time, I found it interesting enough, but I don’t think I realised just how much it would shape the way I look at fashion today.
The deeper I went into fashion history, the more I understood that fashion is so much more than what we wear. It’s politics, rebellion, identity, culture, and history stitched into every garment. Once you begin looking at clothes through that lens, it’s impossible to see them as “just clothes” ever again. Among everything I’ve learnt over the years, handloom continues to be one of the most fascinating parts of that journey.
Why handloom continues to inspire me
I’ve spoken about this before in my Fashion School series, but it’s something I find myself coming back to time and again.
During India’s freedom struggle, especially the Swadeshi Movement of 1905 and later the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, hand-spun and handwoven cloth became symbols of self-reliance and resistance. Choosing handloom wasn’t just about choosing a different fabric. It was a conscious rejection of British-made textiles and colonial economic control.
I still find it incredible that something as simple as a handwoven piece of fabric could become part of a movement that helped reshape an entire nation. It’s one of the strongest reminders that fashion has always had the power to influence society.
Beyond its historical significance, I’m equally fascinated by the craftsmanship itself. Every weave represents hours of patience, skill, and knowledge that’s been passed down through generations. Even the loom is an engineering marvel in its own right. Knowing that every piece carries the stories, traditions, and hands of the people who created it gives handloom a depth that machines simply can’t replicate. For me, handloom is where history and fashion truly meet.
