Silk’s DRIC in Ri Bhoi District inaugurated

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 6, 2022

The Department of Textiles commemorated the 8th National Handloom Day at the Umden-Diwon Eri Silk Village on Saturday.

The commemoration marked the inauguration of the Design, Innovation & Resource Centre, (DIRC) at Umden-Diwon, Raid Nongtluh, Ri-Bhoi District.

The DIRC was setup with a focus on 4 components:- (i) Ahimsa Silk (ii) Organic Dyes (iii) Women Centric (iv) Global presence aspects.

Meghalaya Minister of Textiles Banteidor Lyngdoh hoped that the DIRC would emerge as a repository and inventory of various handloom samples and designs available at the First Eri Silk village.

Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem hoped that it would further facilitate designers and researchers in enhancing the quality of the products through exporters, manufacturers, weaver and other stakeholders.

Delivering his keynote address Commissioner & Secretary of Textiles Federick Roy Kharkongor said the DIRC can emerge as a setup to showcase and establish market linkages between the village and the outside world, leveraging on the Department of Textiles unique Ryndia brand with tagline “From Thread to Trend”, anchored on the motto “Rooted in Nature, Connected to Culture”.

He also expressed hope the DIRC should contribute substantially towards, meeting the aspirations of the weavers, spinners, not only of the Umden-Diwon 1st Eri Silk village, but would also prove immensely beneficial to the neighboring villages of Raid Nongtluh in terms of capacity building, design upscalling, financial assistance, promotion, selling and marketing.

He also said integrating the sector with the latest technologies in the Handloom and Textiles sectors.

The Deputy Commissioner Ri-Bhoi highlighted the collaboration with NIFT to ensure that the DIRC would continue to emerge as an important centre which is pioneering in its professional portrayal and presentation of Eri Silk products, unique to the village.

The Director, Sericulture & Weaving said that the DIRC will facilitate a space for an interactive platform between artisans, weavers, industry and design students through exclusive display areas, spcialised lab, resource centre and design activities.

Earlier in the day as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga, the National Tri Colour was unfurled at the venue.