Treading a Trendy Path, Promoting Weavers

Weavers Village was setup by Sobha Ashwin along with Sreeramya Sambath with a vision to transform the way the world wears handloom clothing

- Jyothisha V J

Afternoon light gleamed in through the mesh roof of the inner courtyard illuminating a hundred little brass bells attached to it. “It was an old delivery room converted into an art studio,’’ Sobha Ashwin, designer and co-founder of Weavers Village in Thiruvananthapuram said, pointing towards an elongated corner room on the right which showcases life-size artworks of reputed artist Sajitha R Shankhar. Drawing our attention further to the railings around the courtyard, she adds, ‘‘those were gifted by Raja Ravi Varma.”

This 150-year-old Rosscote Bungalow with wooden attic forms the facade of the Weavers Village, while the passion to revive the centuries old dying art of handloom remains its foundation. Sobha launched the brand four-and-a-half years ago as an experimental section inside the famed ‘Karalkada,’ and two-and-a half years later, she opened the present homely shopping space with her NID-trained co-founder, Sreeramya Sambath.

“Weavers Village is made possible by channelising the myriad talents and high spirits of many women, right from my inspiring grandmother to the skilled women weavers to the young people who wanted to be a part of the tradition through their innovation,’’ said Sobha.