What if the person teaching a design class was not a professor, but a master weaver? That was the premise Woxsen University’s School of Arts and Design established this National Handloom Day on August 7, in collaboration with the Weaver Service Centre (WSC), Hyderabad, for a session built around India’s handloom traditions and the artisans who keep them alive.
The celebration featured an exhibition led by S Arun Kumar, director of WSC Hyderabad, and his team. The display covered handloom textiles from across India, traditional weaving techniques, and government schemes that support the handloom sector. Students explored the exhibits closely and spoke directly with weaving experts, gaining a first-hand understanding of India’s textile traditions and sustainable craft practices.
Arun also led an interactive session on preserving India’s handloom legacy, supporting artisan communities, and building stronger ties between weavers and the next generation of designers. The session encouraged students to see indigenous textiles not just as heritage, but as a source of contemporary design innovation.
Adity Saxena, dean, School of Arts and Design, Woxsen University, said, “At Woxsen, we believe that design education must extend beyond classrooms and studios. Learning directly from artisans provides students with authentic insights into traditional knowledge systems, craftsmanship, and sustainable practices. By incorporating artisans’ experiences, feedback, and expertise into our curriculum through workshops and collaborative engagements, we enable students to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world craft traditions. Going forward, we are committed to inviting more artisans and master craftspeople to share their invaluable knowledge with our students.”
It is a small but deliberate bet: that the future of Indian design will not be built in isolation from the people who have been weaving its past for centuries. Through initiatives like this, Woxsen University’s School of Arts and Design is positioning itself as a bridge between the studio and the loom, training the next generation of designers who do not just study craft but know the artisans behind it.
