# Modi urges handloom purchases as India weighs sector’s future 2026-08-07T00:45:51+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked National Handloom Day by urging citizens to buy handloom products and share “Get Ready With Me” videos online to support weavers and small traders. He recalled that the Swadeshi Movement began on August 7, 1905, and said the government would continue backing the sector. The Hindu reports that handloom supports more than 35 lakh weavers and allied workers across over 31 lakh households, with women making up nearly 70% of the workforce. It produces nearly 15% of India’s cloth, but many lesser-known traditions face decline as incomes weaken, markets fragment and younger workers leave. Government programmes are promoting skills, design, technology, branding and e-commerce access. ## Coverage - thehindu.com - timesnownews.com Tags: handloom, rural employment, textiles, traditional crafts, weavers Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/indias-handloom-sector-needs-a-shift-from-preservation-to-aspiration/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/indias-handloom-sector-needs-a-shift-from-preservation-to-aspiration/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.