New Delhi, Aug. 2, 2026; The second edition of Handloom Hackathon 2.0 – Weaving Innovations concluded successfully at the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi, highlighting technology-led solutions aimed at strengthening India’s handloom sector through innovation, sustainability and institutional collaboration.
Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles, the hackathon attracted more than 2,500 participants from across the country. Around 280 innovators representing the top 100 shortlisted teams presented solutions addressing key challenges related to loom modernisation, design innovation, sustainability, market access and weaver livelihoods.
The event brought together innovators, researchers, academicians and handloom experts to develop practical technologies that enhance productivity while preserving India’s rich weaving traditions.
Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Dr. M. Beena, said India’s handloom heritage and modern technology complement each other, adding that innovation can play a crucial role in improving the livelihoods of weavers. She highlighted initiatives such as the Indian Handmade Portal, which enables artisans to sell their products globally without intermediaries, and stressed the importance of partnerships with premier institutions like IITs and NIFTs.
Dr. Deepti Gupta, Head of the Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering at IIT Delhi, announced that the upcoming Centre of Excellence for Handloom Technology at the institute is expected to be inaugurated next week in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles. The centre aims to integrate advanced technology with traditional weaving to improve standardisation and productivity while preserving the uniqueness of handcrafted textiles.
Other dignitaries, including IIT Delhi Alumni Association Secretary Pankaj Kapadia and ThinkStartup Co-founder Sanjeeva Shivesh, underscored the importance of innovation and collaboration in revitalising the handloom sector and encouraged participants to continue developing impactful solutions.
The winners were recognised across four thematic categories—Weaver Livelihoods and Financial Inclusion, Market Access and Digital Integration, Sustainability and Environmental Impact, and Innovation in Design and Operations. The winning entries featured AI-powered platforms for weavers, digital marketing tools, eco-friendly dyeing systems and advanced technologies for loom modernisation.
Teams from institutions including IIT Madras, Banaras Hindu University, KCG College of Technology, IIHT Salem, Sri Eshwar College of Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, KLB IIHT Hyderabad and startup Savinya Studio were among the winners.
The Ministry of Textiles said the successful conclusion of Handloom Hackathon 2.0 reinforces its commitment to promoting innovation, strengthening academia-industry partnerships and building a technology-enabled, sustainable and globally competitive handloom ecosystem for India’s weavers.
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