NIFT Hyderabad strives to help weavers to get GI tag

NIFT Hyderabad, a premier fashion technology institute making efforts in its own way to help the weaver’s community and artisans. Apart from offering suggestions and technical expertise for designs and product diversification, NIFT Hyderabad helped a total of nine such communities, three each in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

In Andhra Pradesh, they helped Pedana Kalamkari (block printing in textiles using natural dyes) in Krishna district, Budithi brass and bell metal craft in Srikakulam district and in Telangana it was Nirmal painting to get GI tag.

Since, GI Tag is one way of helping protect the identity and intellectual property rights of the communities traditionally engaged in production of certain products, NIFT on the directions of the Ministry of Textiles for years have worked in helping those communities get the GI tag. In the last one decade, NIFT also helped 50 to 60 traditional crafts and designs get GI tag.

G Hari Shankar Prasad, chairperson of the department of Fashion Management Studies, NIFT Hyderabad said that as they are part of the Ministry of Textiles, they are entrusted with the duty of helping weavers and artisan communities in rural areas, which they do from time to time. Every year, a group of students from NIFT and faculty will continue to identify and visit communities of either weavers or artisans and extend whatever help they can.

The students give suggestions and techniques that can enhance the quality of product, make it a more saleable commodity and also suggest ways for product diversification.