Shillong: Meghalaya’s Textiles Department has been honoured with a Special Award at the Textiles Sustainability Awards, hosted by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industries (CITI).
The award was presented during the Bharat Tex 2025 Global Textiles Expo at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in recognition of Meghalaya’s pioneering efforts in reviving indigenous textile heritage and promoting sustainability.
The prestigious Textiles Heritage Reviver Award, instituted by CITI-Alekh, celebrates individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving traditional textile practices, fostering innovation, and empowering communities. CITI’s Secretary General noted that the jury was particularly impressed by Meghalaya’s commitment to textile heritage and sustainable practices.
Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Principal Secretary of Meghalaya’s Textiles Department, received the award from Union Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles, CITI leadership, and other dignitaries. The ceremony was a key highlight of the closing session of the Bharat Tex Global Textiles Expo 2025.
The event also featured a fashion showcase, “Earth Loom – Threads of Heritage,” celebrating India’s sustainable weaving traditions. Designers from across the country, including Meghalaya, exhibited their collections, underscoring the rich craftsmanship and eco-friendly ethos of indigenous textiles.
Since 2019, Meghalaya’s Textiles Department has introduced several groundbreaking initiatives. The state officially recognized Umden-Diwon village as Meghalaya’s first Eri Silk Village in 2021, while the Design Innovation Research Centre (DIRC) was set up in 2022 to promote the Ryndia silk value chain. Other efforts include the launch of the Ryndia brand, advocacy for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Ryndia silk, and the establishment of Eri Corner at Megh Tex. Meghalaya has also supported Eri farmers under the Silk Samagra programme, initiated the Integrated Textile Tourism Project in Nongpoh, and developed a dedicated e-portal for Ryndia silk.
Meghalaya’s indigenous textiles have gained global recognition, with participation in prestigious international exhibitions such as the Dubai Expo, International Sericulture Commission events in Romania, Silk in Lyon (France), G20 Craft Bazar in Italy and Vietnam, and earlier editions of the Bharat Tex Global Expo. The state has continuously supported local artisans, production houses, and designers, ensuring that Meghalaya’s handspun, handwoven, eco-friendly, and naturally dyed textiles find a place on the international stage.
With this latest recognition, Meghalaya reaffirms its commitment to preserving and advancing its textile traditions, working closely with stakeholders to promote Ryndia and other indigenous silks on both national and global platforms.