New Delhi, Sep 30 (UNI) Paving the way for stronger relations across the globe, first of its kind International Webinar on ‘Weaving Relations, Textile Traditions’, will be held on October 3 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Briefing reporters here on Wednesday, BJP MP and ICCR President Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said the webinar, being held by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in collaboration with UP Institute of Design (UPID), will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through a message.

Bhutan’s Royal Queen Mother Ashu Sangay Choden Wangchuk will be the Chief Guest at the function. Besides, South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook and Bangladesh’s Textile Minister will also be participating in the inaugural function to be chaired by Dr Sahasrabuddhe.

This effort is led by Industry Stalwarts, custodians of crafts, researchers & thinkers, revivalist, designers and weavers across 12 foreign countries -- Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Bhutan, Bahrain, Thailand, Afghanistan, Belarus, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan -- who are participating in the day-long webinar.

This webinar aims to provide the opportunity to textile artists, artisans, weavers and craftsmen to interact, deliberate and share textile traditions, similarities and intermingling of various influences, flow of information along several routes and work towards enlivening the timeless traditions of textiles of the world and brainstorm on technical know-how, best practices and marketing strategies in the current times.

This webinar also seeks to provide the opportunity to textile artists, artisans, weavers and craftsmen to interact, deliberate and share textile traditions, similarities and intermingling of various influences, flow of information along several routes and work towards enlivening the timeless traditions of textiles of the world and brainstorm on technical know-how, best practices and marketing strategies in the current times.

For the last three years, ICCR has been working to emphasise that centrality of Cultural Relations will eventually bring about the necessary vibrancy of economic and diplomatic relations between the countries.

This Webinar is in keeping with this approach and over 12 countries, including Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Uzbekistan and Thailand will be participating in this first of its kind webinar.

Across different sessions, deliberations will be held to explore similarities of challenges being faced by various traditional textile varieties and how mutual cooperation may eventually help strengthen these traditions further.

The international representatives are renowned personalities driving the handspun fabric traditions in their own countries.

The representative structure includes head of states, commission and association heads, researchers, designers revivalist and more who are coming together to lead a movement and revitalize this hand-woven story of love, to connect to our roots, to uphold traditions and celebrate the synergies in the textile world to brave the COVID times together.

The leading names from India include thought leaders like Rajeev Sethi, Founder - Asian Heritage Foundation, Rta Kapur Chishti, Founder – Tana Bana, Dr Anamika Pathak, Ex Curator National Museum Delhi , Dr Toolika Gupta, Director IICD Promoter designers like Rakesh Thakore, Chandrashekar Bheda, Ayush Kasliwal and revivalist and curators like Mira Gupta, Pavithra Muddaya & Vandana Singh.

The webinar will have theme-oriented sessions highlighting local traditions and expertise such as Ikat and Batik, Jamdani, Gamcha, Silk, Muslin, Carpets, Belts and Laces. Industry presentations, panel discussions and collaborative initiatives will be explored during the webinar.

Uttar Pradesh MSME & Export Promotion Minister Siddhartha Nath Singh, will be the Guest of Honor and UPID Chairperson Kshipra Shukla will give the vote of Thanks.

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