India’s handloom heritage was in the spotlight on Wednesday as the Delhi government marked the National Handloom Day with ‘Vastra Katha’ — a curated fashion show that brought together designers, policymakers, and weavers on one platform.Organised by the Delhi Khadi and Village Industries Board at the The Ashok Hotel, the event highlighted the cultural, economic and environmental significance of the country’s handloom sector as the government pledged support for the future of the sector.The evening began with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. She had earlier announced the allocation of Rs 50 crore for handloom and artisan welfare.“Love for the country can be shown not only by standing at the border and firing a gun, but also by wearing clothes woven with the threads of the country,” she said.“From Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu, every state has a fabric that tells its own story. I proudly wear handloom sarees from different states and I want all sisters of Delhi to join me in embracing our culture,” the Chief Minister asserted.Bureaucrats, international dignitaries and renowned fashion designers like Gaurang Shah were in attendance.A “Rainbow Revolution”— the handloom movement that now colours global couture with its threads — is how Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa described the event.Story continues below this adThe opening presentation — ‘Khadi: Ek Daivik Vardan’ — by students of Satyam Fashion Institute visually evoked the idea of khadi as sacred and timeless, with performers dressed as sages and figures from Vedic lore.What followed was a multi-segment showcase of India’s textile diversity. ‘Bharat – Vividhta Mein Ekta’ featured handlooms from Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in a tribute to the freedom movement.The vibrance of Punjab took centre stage in ‘Punjab Da Rang, Khushiyan Da Sang’, where models walked the ramp in brightly coloured traditional attire.‘Delhi Marches Ahead with Handloom Office Wears’ reimagined handloom for modern office wear, emphasising everyday utility.Story continues below this adThe show also spotlighted regional craftsmanship through Banarasi Shringar, designed by Shivam Arts Exports from Varanasi, which brought wedding wear to the ramp — lehenga set, sarees and sherwanis in rich weaves.‘Opulence Through Threads’, by students of Satyam Fashion Institute, celebrated intricate floral threadwork on Khadi wear.The ‘Nine Yards Wonder’ segment drew attention to sarees from states including West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.The finale — ‘Khadi Handloom Goes International — presented by designer Samant Chauhan showcased global designs reimagined in Khadi.Story continues below this adSpeaking at the event, Sirsa described handloom as a force that goes beyond aesthetics. “This is the vision of our Chief Minister, who wants to take the handloom to every home in the country as a fashion icon,” he said.With government action aligning with cultural celebration, Vastra Katha positioned the handloom not just as heritage — but as a vital part of India’s future, said organisers.