Shillong: The ministry of development of north eastern region (DoNER) has taken a major step towards promoting inter-regional collaboration in India’s handloom sector by exploring the fusion of the northeast’s celebrated Eri silk with Rajasthan’s iconic Kota Doria fabric.The initiative aims to create a distinctive, premium textile for domestic and international markets.On Sunday, secretary of the DoNER ministry Sanjay Jaju visited the Kaithoon Common Facility Centre in Kota. He was accompanied by Kota district collector Piyush Samaria and the managing director of North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation, Mara Kocho.The delegation interacted with local weavers, artisans, and fashion designers and observed the traditional weaving techniques that have made Kota Doria globally renowned for its lightweight texture, transparent weave, and distinctive check-pattern patterns.“Discussions during the visit focused on the feasibility of integrating Eri silk — popularly known as ‘peace silk’ due to its ethical and eco-friendly production process — with Kota Doria to develop a high-value fabric that blends luxury, comfort, durability, and heritage craftsmanship,” an official statement from the DoNER ministry said on Monday.“Officials noted that the initiative has the potential to open new livelihood opportunities for artisans and weavers in both Rajasthan and the northeastern states while significantly enhancing the value proposition of Indian handloom products in the global marketplace,” the statement stated.During the visit, the delegation, accompanied by select fashion designers and representatives of the weaving community, called on Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla at his residence and briefed him on the proposed initiative. Birla emphasised that blending Kota Doria with Eri silk would create a ‘new benchmark’ in India’s textile sector by bringing together two rich and diverse handloom traditions. Such collaborations will also generate sustainable economic opportunities for artisans, particularly women and rural weaving communities.Jaju said the initiative is envisioned as a model of collaborative textile innovation that integrates regional strengths to create globally competitive products rooted in Indian heritage.To institutionalise the collaboration, preparations are underway for signing an MoU between the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation and the District Industries Centre, Govt of Rajasthan. The proposed MoU will foster joint product and design development, skill enhancement and artisan training, technology support, branding, and market linkage initiatives.The collaboration is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s transformative 5F Vision — Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Fabric, Fabric to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign — and the Make in India mission. It showcases how India’s diverse regional textile traditions can be integrated to create globally competitive handloom products while advancing the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ through cultural integration and economic empowerment of weavers and artisans across regions.
