National Handloom Day: Amazon India, Odisha Govt Partner to Take 1.3 Lakh Weavers Online

08 Aug 2026, 07:55 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

More than 130,000 weavers and artisans across Odisha are set to gain access to e-commerce under a new partnership between Amazon India and the state government’s Directorate of Textiles.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed to mark National Handloom Day, will bring eligible weavers and artisans recommended by the Directorate of Textiles onto Amazon Karigar, the company’s programme for helping artisans and weavers sell their products online.

The partnership is expected to give Odisha’s handloom producers a wider customer base while retaining the focus on authentic traditional products. Among those to be showcased are the state’s nine GI-tagged handloom products: Sambalpuri Bandha, Orissa Ikat, Khandua, Bomkai, Gopalpur Tussar, Berhampur Patta, Kotpad Handloom, Habaspuri and Dhalapathar fabrics.

Under the arrangement, Amazon will assist participating sellers at several stages of their transition to online commerce. The support will include seller onboarding, training, initial account management, product imaging, cataloguing and marketing assistance.

The aim is to help weavers and artisans establish and expand their businesses on Amazon while making Odisha’s handloom products accessible to customers across India.

Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati said the state’s handloom tradition is closely tied to its cultural identity and supports the livelihoods of thousands of artisans and weaving families. He said the partnership would create opportunities for handloom institutions to use e-commerce while maintaining the authenticity and heritage associated with Odisha’s products.

According to the Governor, expanding online market access could allow weavers to reach consumers across India and give more people an opportunity to discover Odisha’s craftsmanship.

Aruna Daryanani, representing Amazon India, said the company’s work with artisan and weaving communities is aimed at connecting them with customers nationwide.

The latest agreement forms part of Amazon India’s broader efforts to support artisans, weavers and local businesses by providing them with access to digital commerce.