The Andhra Pradesh government is holding discussions with retailers like Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal to sell handloom products on their website. This will help in introducing an online platform to the workmanship of the handloom weavers as well as recognition to the ancient tradition, which is one of the prime reasons of the centre backing these weavers.
Weavers can promote products like Venkatagiri, Mangalagiri, Pedana, Dharmavaram, Uppada and Bandar cotton sarees and dress materials online. Men’s wear includes readymade cotton shirts, lungis, and dhotis. This apart, house furnishing products such as bedsheets, towels, and pillow covers have also good demand in the country and abroad.
The Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society Ltd., (APCO) will enter into an agreement with the online retailers. State handlooms minister Kollu Ravindra said that the initiative was an endeavour to empower weavers and give a boost to the sector as well.
Rabindra said there is a great demand for handloom products with natural dyes in European countries. The online majors are also aware of these facts and effort would be made to explore the possibilities.