Online marketplace to promote Indian food, culture and heritage through handcrafted products, iShippo.com, has tied up with Development Commissioner Handloom of the textiles ministry to educate, train and empower weavers to directly sell their products on the ishippo.com online portal.

Described as one of the top five e-commerce startups to look out for in 2016, iShippo.com is a marketplace where people around the world connect, both online and offline, to make, sell and buy handcrafted goods. Its mission is to support local artisans by connecting them with designers and buyers from across the globe.

The partnership allows iShippo.com to initially engage with weavers in Bagalkot and other clusters hubs in the state of Karnataka. The products will carry government certifications ‘India Handloom Brand’ and ‘Handloom Mark’.

The global demand for Indian Handloom is increasing. According to Handloom Export Promotion Council, India exported handloom worth 350 million US dollar for the FY 2014-15. India has 2.4 million looms with significant production capacity in the country. The Indian handloom sector employs 4.3 million weavers.

“It’s opening up to change, focusing on sustainable growth and welfare of the weaver communities. We are literally bringing the global market to our weaver’s doorstep. We can take an idea from design to finished goods and deliver it to the hands of buyers in one seamless transaction.” Karma Bhutia, founder and ceo of iShippo.com said.

Promotion of marketing of Handloom products through e-commerce is a priority of the textiles ministry. In order to promote e-marketing of handloom products in a transparent competitive and effective manner, the textile ministry has partnered with iShippo.com. Development commissioner, handlooms, Alok Kumar said, “India Handloom Brand is a major initiative of the centre to reposition premium and good quality handloom products for the benefit of consumers as well as weavers.