Tribal weaves get a contemporary spotlight with RISA's latest showcase

RISA brought tribal weaves, designers and artisans together in New Delhi on National Handloom Day. The showcase highlighted efforts to expand markets for indigenous textiles without weakening their cultural roots.Weaves of India was held on August 7 and brought together traditional textiles, contemporary designers and tribal artisans.India’s tribal textile traditions took centre stage in New Delhi on National Handloom Day, as the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the Government of India and TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd) hosted a showcase of tribal weaves and crafts at the RISA flagship store on Baba Kharak Singh Marg.Titled Tribal Weaves of India, the event was held on August 7 and brought together traditional textiles, contemporary designers and tribal artisans as part of RISA: Timeless Tribal, a premium brand launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and operated under TRIFED.The showcase featured GI-tagged textiles from across India, including Kotpad cotton, Tussar silk, Eri silk, Muga silk, Toda embroidery and Dongria embroidery. Collections by designers including Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Anju Modi, Manish Tripathi, Gaurav Jai Gupta and Sameera Dalvi were also showcased which featured textiles sourced directly from tribal weavers.The idea was to show how traditional tribal textiles can find a place in contemporary fashion without losing their connection to the communities and knowledge systems that produced them. A panel discussion, What Makes Tribal Weaves Timeless?, brought together craft revivalist Jaya Jaitly, designers Anju Modi and Gaurav Jai Gupta, textile artist Gaurang Shah, Save the Loom founder Ramesh Menon and Asha Baxi, founding faculty and former dean of NIFT, who moderated the session.The discussion focused on preserving traditional knowledge while creating new design and market opportunities for tribal artisans. It also looked at the role of designers, institutions and industry in taking these textiles to wider markets while retaining their authenticity. The showcase went beyond textiles. RISA displayed crafts including Longpi pottery from Manipur, Turtuk brass cutlery from Ladakh, Warli art from Maharashtra and Dokhra art from Chhattisgarh. Visitors could also watch live demonstrations of Warli and Gond art on tribal textiles. The event also saw tribal master artisans being felicitated. The event also saw tribal master artisans being felicitated. For RISA, the larger aim is to position tribal textiles and crafts as premium products while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for artisans and connecting them with consumers in India and overseas. The brand’s proposition is built around keeping indigenous weaving traditions commercially relevant while preserving their cultural identity.- EndsPublished By: Tiasa Bhowal Published On: Aug 11, 2026 14:06 IST