Dhapewada women weavers open new unit, aim to take tussar silk sarees global
Representative image: Nowaja / Pixabay
A women-owned handloom company in Nagpur's Dhapewada opened its new building on October 17, 2026, aiming for 5,000 jobs and a global silk saree brand.
What Happened
A women-run handloom company in Dhapewada, a village in Nagpur district's Kalmeshwar taluka, opened its new building on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with a pledge to turn its silk sarees into a brand for the global fashion market. Actor and MP Hema Malini inaugurated the building of the Dhapewada Textile Udyog Producer Company Limited and formally launched the handloom initiative, while Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who presided, said the aim was to create work for 5,000 women and to showcase Dhapewada silk as far afield as Cannes. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh also attended.
Key Facts
- The new building of the Dhapewada Textile Udyog Producer Company was inaugurated on October 17, 2026, by Hema Malini, with Nitin Gadkari presiding.
- The project began in 2021 with training for local women and is run as a women-owned producer company.
- Reports put current membership at between 400 and more than 700 women, working on nearly 100 handlooms.
- The unit weaves tussar silk, silk-cotton and cotton sarees, and Gadkari said it can now make premium tussar silk sarees and plans to raise production.
- Gadkari's target is employment for 5,000 women in future.
- He said the goal is for each weaver to earn Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 a month within a year; reports differ slightly on the lower figure.
- Gadkari spoke of building Dhapewada silk into a distinct global brand, including showing it at Cannes.
Why It Matters
India's handloom sector often faces a familiar problem: celebrated weaves but shrinking numbers of weavers, who leave when pay is low or irregular. A producer company, in which the weavers themselves are members and owners, is one of the models meant to change that by giving them a share of the value instead of selling through layers of middlemen.
Dhapewada's plan rests on three ideas. The first is ownership by women, which keeps earnings in the hands of the women who do the work and in their village. The second is moving up the value chain, from everyday cotton to premium tussar silk, where each saree earns far more. The third is branding: a saree sold under a recognisable regional name can command a better price than an anonymous one.
The earnings target is the real test. Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 a month would be a significant income for rural women weavers. Reaching it will depend on steady orders, good design, reliable supplies of yarn and access to buyers in big cities and abroad. The presence of a Union textiles minister and a film star at the launch brings attention, but sustained sales are what will keep the looms busy.
For fashion buyers, the pitch is a handmade product with a clear origin and a women-owned supply chain. Whether that becomes a lasting brand will depend on consistent quality and design.
| Detail | Dhapewada Textile Udyog Producer Company |
|---|---|
| Location | Dhapewada, Kalmeshwar taluka, Nagpur district |
| Started | 2021, with training for women |
| Members | 400 to over 700 women, per reports |
| Products | Tussar silk, silk-cotton and cotton sarees |
| Targets | 5,000 jobs; Rs 20,000-30,000 monthly earnings per weaver |
Impact
Short-term: The new building gives the weavers more space and capacity to scale up production of premium silk sarees ahead of the festive and wedding season.
Long-term: If orders and pricing hold, the cluster could become a model for women-owned handloom enterprises in Maharashtra and draw more young women into weaving as a viable career.
Who is affected: Women weavers in Dhapewada and nearby villages, their families, buyers and designers looking for authentic handloom, and policymakers watching producer companies as a way to revive handloom.
Key Takeaway
Dhapewada's women-owned handloom company opened a new building on October 17, 2026, with plans to grow to 5,000 jobs and take its tussar silk sarees to global fashion markets.
Questions and Answers
What is the Dhapewada silk saree project?
It is a women-owned handloom producer company in Dhapewada village, Nagpur district, which began in 2021 and weaves tussar silk, silk-cotton and cotton sarees. Its new building opened on October 17, 2026.
Who inaugurated the Dhapewada textile building?
Actor and MP Hema Malini inaugurated it, with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari presiding and Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh present.
How many women does the project employ?
Reports put membership at 400 to more than 700 women working on about 100 handlooms. Gadkari's target is employment for 5,000 women.
How much will Dhapewada weavers earn?
Gadkari said the aim is for each weaver to earn about Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 a month within a year.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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