How This Startup From Garo Hills Is Trying To Keep The Art of Weaving Alive

Baishali ThapaJanuary 19, 2022

India is a country endowed with rich art, culture, and traditions which represents its deep history. Weaving is certainly an art that has made a mark amid industrialization. It has been practiced for over the years now, and to meet the modern requirements, both the process and equipment used for weaving have grown and developed.

Even with the availability of the latest equipment, there are still weavers who prefer to weave naturally. Bakrime Loinloom, a Meghalaya-based startup is making a connected effort to keep the art of weaving alive and encourage women for a sustainable livelihood.

It all began when 5 women of different backgrounds started weaving stoles and Garo traditional Dakmandas using eri silk thread and dyeing those using natural resources from the surroundings.

We have started the weaving and dyeing business in 2019. Since then we have been weaving using only eri silk threads and also dyeing using natural resources. We are also training women who are interested in weaving as well as natural dyeing. says Grisin A Sangma, Founder 

Grisin took this initiative not only for promoting the weaving art of Meghalaya, but she also wanted to help and encourage unemployed women to utilize their time and talent for sustainable living. Her journey had its hurdles and one of the challenges she faced as she did not have a good number of weavers and so they could produce only a few products.

Since we are few in numbers, we could only make a few products. This way we take a long time to meet the demands of some customers. We have been training and motivating other women as well but since it requires a certain amount of work other women seem to be not interested. She added

Entrepreneurship is all about ‘never giving up’ and Grisin is one such entrepreneur who went on with her journey despite many challenges. Finally, in 2021, she got selected in the CM Prime Entrepreneurship Challenge and she is amongst the Top 50 entrepreneurs of Meghalaya.

For her future plan, Grisin wants to keep encouraging the women of her community to weave by using natural dye elements. She also wants to take care of nature while preserving her tradition.

As a last message for the readers, Grisin says,

If you got a vision go for it. Challenges do knock but the solution never backs out. I also want to thank all the members of PRIME Meghalaya. It’s indeed a blessing to be selected.

We wish Grisin all the best for her future endeavors. Keep supporting the budding entrepreneurs and their startups.