is celebrated as National Handloom Day in India, and it’s a way to honour the country’s rich weaving traditions as well as the artisans who’ve actually managed to preserve them for generations. The day stems from its own history; it continues to be an opportunity where we must celebrate in every way possible, including with designers, celebrities and fashion lovers who continue to bring handloom back into everyday wardrobes.
We’ve seen Bollywood do it all, right from Rekha’s iconic and timeless Kanjeevaram sarees to celebrities like Janhvi Kapoor and Alia Bhatt bringing a modern take on Banarasi silks, and thanks to them, handloom continues to be relevant, timeless, and something that’s looked up to across generations, especially younger ones.
All about National Handloom Day: The history and why it’s celebrated
National Handloom Day’s origin goes back to the Swadeshi Movement, which was first launched on August 7, 1905, and was a way to encourage Indians to boycott foreign goods while making sure to embrace products from the country, especially handwoven textiles.
To commemorate this movement, the Government of India declared August 7 as National Handloom Day in 2015, and ever since, the day is seen as a celebration of India’s weaving communities through not just campaigns and sales, but also exhibitions, showcases, etc.
Interestingly, in 2025, and in recent times, for that matter, there’s been an increased focus on promoting Indian handlooms in every way possible to support local artisans as well as promote choosing Indian craftsmanship over fast fashion, because the latter is dominating markets and how.
Bollywood celebs prove Handlooms will always be relevant
Fashion cycles come and go, but we often find Indian handlooms at the centre of everything, time and again, and a part of that credit does go to Bollywood for being able to make sure the spotlight never completely goes away.
Credits: Instagram
Every time we talk about Indian handloom, one actress who’ll always get us talking is Rekha, and her timeless Kanjeevaram silk saree looks. It’s an Indian handloom that’s become almost synonymous to her personal style, and every time she steps out wearing one, it’s the rich colours, the zari work, and her one-of-a-kind styling that always takes the cake away.
Credits: Instagram/janhvikapoor
Janhvi Kapoor has also been a champion for Banarasi and handwoven silk sarees, with the highlight being how she pairs them with contemporary blouses, adds makeup that looks as fresh as ever, and, of course, accessorises the looks just right, making sure that she shows us how heritage textiles aren’t outdated.
Credits: Instagram.deepikapadukone
Deepika Padukone, too, has often had her moments when she’s embraced Indian craftsmanship through designer pieces, especially sarees from Sabysachi, and made it a point to flaunt them at several cultural events as well as film promotions. Her style often makes headlines, while also sharing the focus with the textile.
Credits: Instagram/aliaabhatt
Alia Bhatt has also shown us on multiple occasions how one can embrace traditional weaves in multiple ways, and that the number of ways in which you can style it up, is absolutely incomparable to how people often ‘typecast’ Indian handlooms as something that only old people would wear.
Among others who often make a case for Indian textiles are Kangana Ranaut, with her love for Chanderi, Maheshwari and other handloom cottons, while Dia Mirza too has chosen handloom sarees in her attempt to support sustainable fashion. Sonam Kapoor is another celebrity who has experimented with Indian weaves while ensuring that her fashion never takes a backseat either.
On more occasions than one, some of the most fashionable looks of the night have been celebrities in Indian textiles, proving that those aren’t just for festive season, but can in fact, be as relevant as any other trend.
Why handloom still matters
National Handloom Day was never just about celebrating the beautiful textiles that India has, but it was about what those handwoven , dupattas and kurtas represent — the livelihood of several artisans and craftsmanship that has survived centuries, despite the way fast fashion has taken over.
When you pick a handloom, it’s never just about the style; it’s also about supporting the weaving community of the country while ensuring you preserve traditions as well as pass them through generations.
While fashion continues to move towards an era of mindful consumption, handlooms will always be a reminder that it’s never just about seasonal trends, and that some pieces carry history, and therefore, go beyond fashion cycles. And maybe, that’s the reason why Indian weaves will always be not just important, but also relevant.
Celebrities like Rekha, Vidya Balana, Kangana Ranaut, and many others have often embraced Indian handloom weaves on several occasions.
Social and lead image credits: Instagram
National Handloom Day 2026: The History, Heritage And Celebrity Looks That Keep Handloom Timeless
National Handloom Day is celebrated across India on August 7.
National Handloom Day was first observed in 2015 to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement of August 7, 1905.
The Swadeshi Movement was all about encouraging Indians to become self-reliant by boycotting foreign goods and supporting local products, especially handwoven textiles, therefore marking a key moment in India’s textile history.