Ziro, May 3: A one-day workshop-cum-seminar aimed at strengthening traditional handicraft practices and enhancing market access for artisans was held in Ziro on Saturday under the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) of the Ministry of Textiles.
Organised by the state department of industries in collaboration with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Kolkata, the workshop drew participation from over 70 artisans from across Lower Subansiri district.
The event was inaugurated by Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner Vivek HP and zilla parishad member of 12-Reru constituency Nani Jailang. In his address, the deputy commissioner urged artisans to utilise such platforms to improve their skills and expand their outreach. He pointed out that markets such as Shillong prominently feature products like Naga shawls, while traditional crafts from Arunachal Pradesh remain underrepresented.
The workshop was led by a team from NIFT Kolkata, including professors Jayati Mukherjee and Sanjib Kumar Das, along with design experts Anamika Debnath and Anwesha Mukherjee. The sessions, held under the theme “Creating Avenues to a New Identity,” focused on blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, sustainable production practices, and improving artisans’ understanding of raw materials, production techniques, and market linkages.
Participants were also introduced to tribal motifs and beadwork unique to the Apatani community and engaged in discussions on design innovation and trends from other regions of India. Experts presented documented research on historical and cultural motifs from the Northeast.
This marks the sixth workshop under CHCDS, with previous sessions conducted in Namsai, Tezu, and Miao, benefitting over 300 artisans to date.
