The Assam Royal Global University (RGU) celebrated National Handloom Day 2026 with an Industry–Academia Connect programme, bringing together leading fashion entrepreneurs, designers, handloom experts, artisans, and students. The event aimed to explore the future of sustainable fashion, entrepreneurship, and India’s rich textile heritage.
The programme was organised by the Royal School of Fashion Design and Technology (RSFT) in collaboration with the Institution’s Innovation Council and Entrepreneurship Cell (IIC-EC), with support from the Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC). It featured internationally acclaimed fashion entrepreneur and designer Robert Naorem from Manipur, along with other experts who shared their experiences on building successful creative enterprises rooted in indigenous crafts.
Dr. Sriparna Bhuyan Baruah, Director, IIC-EC, addressed the gathering, stating that National Handloom Day is not only a celebration of India’s centuries-old textile traditions but also an opportunity to encourage innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in the handloom sector. The University seeks to inspire students to develop technology-driven solutions, ethical business models, and sustainable enterprises that empower weavers and preserve traditional craftsmanship.
An interactive session titled ‘Craft to Commerce – Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Building Sustainable Creative Enterprises’ was a key attraction, where students actively participated in the discussion through an open-house question-and-answer session with the experts and artisans. Traditional artisans from Pairanga, Boko, demonstrated Eri silk weaving and natural dyeing, while artists from Majuli showcased the intricate art of Assamese manuscript painting.
An exhibition of Eri silk products developed by weavers from Pairanga under the Cisco CSR Project drew considerable attention, allowing participants to interact directly with the artisans and appreciate the craftsmanship behind the products. The programme also explored future collaboration between FMC and RGU’s Innovation Council and Entrepreneurship Cell through student internships, live industry projects, innovation challenges, design collaborations, and field immersion programmes.
