Chendamangalam shot into media attention during the Kerala floods last year, thanks to a few designers and handloom enthusiasts who shared the devastation faced by the handloom weavers in the area on social media. Help poured in various forms. Chekutty – the Chendamangalam Doll became the symbol of hope and perseverance.
Today Chendamangalam Handloom Weaver’s Co-operative Society No 3428 is a hub of activity. We see a couple of young designers and workers from NGOs visiting, to place their orders or to help out with product innovation.
Society Secretary, Ms. Priya is welcoming and agrees to let us walk around the weaving unit. Sarala chechi at the Society office shows us the new range of beautiful cotton sarees, the traditional set sarees and mundus and the shirting material woven at the Society.
Interestingly of the 62 looms at the Society, only three are operated by men, the rest are all operated by women weavers. Both male and female weavers receive same wages here which was not the case in some of the Societies we visited in Kannur. Although wages are still low, there are NGOs like Save the Loom that are working towards increasing wages by helping the Societies expand their market share through product innovation.
This was just one Handloom Society. We learn that there are five Handloom Societies in Paravoor and around 400 looms both within and outside the Societies.
We place our orders and leave with the hope to return with more orders. And also that we can visit the other societies around the area next time and see a flourishing weaver’s community.
Thanks for expressing this particular message and rendering it public