Behind the Weave: Thoughtloom’s Handloom Day Celebration at Palam Silks Draws Overwhelming Response
Chennai, August 2026: Thoughtloom at Palam Silks, Mylapore, hosted Behind the Weave on August 6, bringing together weavers, designers, journalists and handloom enthusiasts across generations for an afternoon celebrating craftsmanship, creativity and the enduring relevance of Indian handloom, ahead of National Handloom Day on August 7.
The event featured an insightful conversation between Naresh Ramasubramaniam, Founder of Shuttles & Needles, and journalist, features writer and former Deputy Editor of The Hindu, Kausalya Santhanam. They explored how weaving goes beyond fabric-making, developing observation, patience, creativity and problem-solving while continuing to influence contemporary design and education.
A special highlight was the presence of Dr. Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, who personally took to the loom and wove a length of fabric, reflecting his family’s textile legacy spanning more than a century. He described weaving as a knowledge-driven art and emphasised the importance of ensuring that younger generations understand, practise and carry forward the craft. He also encouraged more people beyond traditional weaving families to consider weaving as a profession, highlighting India’s extraordinary diversity of textiles and the immense creative possibilities within the industry.
The hands-on workshop conducted by Shuttles & Needles received an overwhelming response, with participants of all ages taking turns at the loom and experiencing the craft first-hand. Each participant created their own piece of fabric and took it home, mounted as a personal keepsake. The pride and happiness of participants as they held their finished weaves captured the spirit of the afternoon.
Through Behind the Weave, Thoughtloom reaffirmed its commitment to celebrating handloom not as a relic of the past, but as a living, evolving practice that continues to inspire new ways of seeing, creating and learning.
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