Handloom Hackathon 2025 to foster innovation & empower artisans

Development Commissioner (Handlooms) launched the “Handloom Hackathon 2025,” yesterday. It is a pioneering national competition set to revolutionise India’s handloom sector. Organised in collaboration with the National Design Centre and Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer, IIT Delhi, the hackathon will be one of the key highlights of this year’s National Handloom Day 2025 (which falls on August 7) celebrations, reaffirming the government’s commitment to preserving and modernizing the sector.

The Handloom Hackathon 2025 is scheduled to take place on August 2–3, 2025, at the Research and Innovation Park of IIT Delhi, where students, technologists, weavers, and professionals will come together to develop ideas addressing real-world challenges in the handloom industry.

Speaking on this, Dr. M Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), shared, “National Handloom Day is not just about honouring our weavers, it’s about shaping the future of the sector. With Handloom Hackathon 2025, we are building a bridge between heritage and innovation by inviting young minds to co-create impactful solutions alongside traditional artisans and industry experts.”

Focusing on five core areas; design innovation, sustainability, market access, skill development, and community building, the hackathon will provide a platform for cross-disciplinary collaboration and practical problem-solving.

Under the theme “DREAM IT; DO IT”, the hackathon encourages participation from college students, handloom and textile innovators, fashion designers, engineers, researchers, and weavers. The best ideas will not only receive awards but also long-term support from DC Handlooms to transform those ideas into real-world solutions.

The hackathon aims to foster innovation, promote sustainability, enhance market access, drive skill development, and build a stronger community, ultimately leading to the economic empowerment of handloom artisans.

Online registration for the Handloom Hackathon 2025 is now open, and the last day is July 31.