The Art of Handloom: Why We Champion Handwoven Craft

At Samarkand Design, we have always believed that the story behind a piece is as important as the piece itself. Nowhere is this more true than in our range of handwoven products, each made by hands on traditional looms by skilled artisans who have inherited their craft over generations.

In this blog, we want to explain what handloom actually means, why we choose to work with handloom weavers, and take you through the handwoven pieces we offer - from Keralan lampshades to Moroccan bath towels and woollen throws woven in Kutch, Gujarat.

What is Handloom?

Handloom refers to fabric that is woven entirely by hand on a traditional wooden loom, rather than produced on a mechanised power loom. It is one of the oldest textile crafts in the world, and in regions such as Kerala, Assam and Gujarat, it remains a deeply rooted part of local culture and livelihood.

Every handloom textile is the result of countless hours of skilled, manual work - from spinning and dyeing the yarn to threading the loom and weaving, thread by thread. No two pieces are ever quite the same, and that is precisely the point.

Why We Choose Handwoven Over Machine-Made

I am passionate about supporting handloom weaving because I believe it is a craft worth preserving. Handloom weaving supports entire communities, providing a livelihood for artisans whose skills have often been passed down through families for generations.

Sadly, many traditional handloom workshops are now under threat, as cheaper, faster power loom production takes over. By Samarkand Design buying specifically handwoven products it is a small but meaningful way to help sustain these workshops and the craft itself, rather than letting it disappear.

There is also something in the finished product that a machine simply cannot replicate. Handloom textiles carry the slight, natural imperfections of the human hand - a thread that sits ever so slightly differently, a subtle variation in tension or colour resulting in one of a kind pieces which brings texture, character and a sense of story into your home. 

Some of our weavers in Assam showing off a beautiful silk Eeri sari, woven in their homes on the banks of the Brahmaputra river.

Keralan Lampshades - Handloom from Kannur

Our Kerala Collection of lampshades are woven in small workshops in northern Kerala, near Kannur - a region celebrated for its centuries old handloom traditions. Kannur has long been one of India's most important handloom weaving centres, and the cotton used in these lampshades reflects that heritage.

As with all our handwoven pieces, these workshops are increasingly overshadowed by power loom production, which makes every Keralan lampshade we sell a small but genuine act of support for the region's remaining handloom weavers.

Assam Lampshades - A Different Handloom Tradition

Further east, our Assam Collection draws on the equally rich handloom heritage of Assam, a state where weaving is woven into everyday life - almost every household has traditionally had its own loom.

This is the resulting lampshade from the handloom image above. These lampshades carry a distinct texture and character, shaped by regional weaving techniques passed down through generations of Assamese artisans.

Moroccan Handwoven Bath Mats and Towels

Handloom weaving is not unique to India, and our range of bathroom textiles includes handwoven bath mats and towels from Morocco.

Woven by hand in small workshops, these pieces bring the same softness, texture and individuality to everyday essentials. 

Linen Aprons, Handwoven with Purpose

Our handwoven Linen Aprons combine a practical, everyday design with the same handloom principles that run through our whole collection.

Linen is naturally suited to hand-weaving, and the slight irregularities in the weave give each apron a soft, lived-in quality that only improves with use.

Woollen Throws, Handwoven in Kutch, Gujarat

Photo - Gourab Ganguli

Our woollen throws are handwoven in Kutch, Gujarat - a region with a long and distinguished history of textile craftsmanship.

Kutch weavers are renowned for their skill in working wool, and each throw in our textiles collection reflects this expertise, offering warmth, texture and a layered, handcrafted look for the home.

Bringing Handloom Into Your Home

Choosing handloom is about more than aesthetics. It is a choice to support traditional artisans, to preserve weaving techniques that are at risk of disappearing, and to bring pieces into your home that carry genuine craftsmanship and story. 

From Keralan and Assam lampshades to Moroccan bath towels, linen aprons and Kutch wool throws, every handwoven piece in our collection has been made by hand, by someone who has dedicated years to perfecting their craft.

You can explore our full range of handloom and handwoven products in our handloom collection with fast UK and worldwide delivery.

Want to Try Handloom Weaving Yourself?

If you are local to Devon and reading about handloom craftsmanship has left you curious to try it yourself, you can at Devon Weavers Workshop. Offering beginners courses as well as classes for intermediate and advanced weavers.

Established in 2005 to help preserve handweaving in the county, the workshop welcomes students from the local area and beyond, and is a lovely way to get hands-on with the craft behind the pieces we sell.