India Handmade Collective (IHMC), a community of eco-friendly, handmade brands, is set to host its upcoming Natural Dye Handmade Festival in Chennai and Bangalore. The festival will take place at CP Arts Centre, Chennai from August 29–31 and at the Bangalore International Center, Domlur from September 19–21, showcasing sustainable handmade clothing, crafts, and lifestyle products.
Founded in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating impact on nearly 40 lakh Indian artisans, IHMC works to revive and promote natural dyeing, handspinning, and handweaving traditions.
“Natural dyeing and handweaving are lost art forms which passionate artisans are working to revive,” said Mahima Thangappan, coordinator of IHMC. The collective connects local artisans with eco-conscious consumers while addressing the environmental challenges posed by fast fashion and polyester-based textiles, which account for 20% of global water pollution.
The Chennai and Bangalore editions of the festival will bring together brands such as Nature Alley, Tula, MGGSS Foundation, Tinctoria, Sahajaallika Project, Terrabarn, Konnai, Temple Vibes, Porunai Ecocrafters, Porgai, Khamir, Moral Fibre, and Qalambatik. These labels will present naturally dyed, handspun, handwoven cotton fabrics, terracotta jewellery, eco-friendly personal care products, woven baskets, and more. Visitors will also witness live demonstrations of handspinning and weaving, keeping alive traditions such as Muslin weaving, once hampered by colonial intervention.
The festival will feature fabrics with traditional techniques like Ecoprinting, Batik, and Kalamkari, alongside sustainable fashion options including dresses, sarees, tops, pants, and handcrafted accessories. Adding to the immersive experience, workshops on Embroidery, Batik, Sound Healing, Terracotta Jewellery Making, and Traditional Games will allow visitors to engage directly with artisans.
IHMC festivals have previously been held in Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai. At the most recent Hyderabad edition, participating brands reached up to 400 customers, with visitors praising the authenticity of the handmade collections.
Highlighting the need to value indigenous craftsmanship, IHMC emphasizes that while global brands sell Indian handmade products at premium prices, it is time for Indian consumers to embrace their own heritage and support local artisans directly.
Driving the campaign is Sweta Jhunjhunwala, a veteran in media and digital marketing, whose expertise is amplifying IHMC’s mission through engaging storytelling.
The IHMC Natural Dye Handmade Festival invites eco-conscious consumers to experience sustainable fashion and crafts that celebrate tradition, heritage, and environmental responsibility.
