As India’s handloom sector balances the demands of tradition and market relevance, innovation is increasingly becoming a critical enabler of growth. Birla Cellulose is contributing to this transition by helping handloom clusters integrate sustainable cellulosic fibres such as Livaeco^TM Viscose, Livaeco^TM Modal and Livaeco^TM Lyocell into their product offerings, allowing weavers to create fabrics that retain their artisanal appeal while responding to changing consumer expectations around comfort, affordability and sustainability. The effort is helping strengthen domestic textile value chains while opening new avenues for value creation across weaving communities.

Traditionally, handloom weaving in India has relied on cotton & silk yarns. However, the constant fluctuations in price & supply, compounded by changing consumer buying patterns require a stable supply of high-quality input materials. Birla Cellulose seeks to address this gap by enabling the use of high performance MMCF fibres namely viscose, modal and lyocell fibres. These fibres blended with the traditional fibres or even as standalone products help in crafting fabrics that retain the richness of handloom while delivering enhanced softness, drape, comfort and sustainability.

The initiative goes beyond fibre adoption. It is built on a partnership-driven model that focuses on creating long-term value for the weaving community. Birla Cellulose has undertaken extensive yarn seeding programmes, provided technical support for dyeing and product development, facilitated product testing, and established supply mechanisms to ensure access to small quantities of yarn. Additional interventions, including cone-to-hank conversion facilities, have helped simplify adoption at the weaver level.

Assam emerged as the first pilot hub for the project, establishing a framework that is now being replicated across the country. The programme has expanded into Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, working alongside organisations such as ARTFED, KHAMIR, the Kutch Weavers Association and various state-supported handloom societies. From Silk x Livaeco^TM Modal Chanderi fabrics in Madhya Pradesh to Banarasi blends with Livaeco^TM Modal & Livaeco^TM Lyocell in Varanasi, the initiative is accelerating product innovation rooted in regional craftsmanship.

Strengthening this effort further, Birla Cellulose has entered into a strategic collaboration with the State Agency for Development of Handloom Cluster (SADHAC), Odisha, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on developing innovative handloom fabrics using Livaeco™ Lyocell. The partnership aims to create a new generation of premium handloom textiles by blending Lyocell fibre with traditional handloom yarns, enabling artisans in Odisha and beyond to retain the authenticity and aesthetics of regional weaving traditions while introducing enhanced comfort, versatility and sustainability. By combining fibre innovation with centuries-old craftsmanship, the initiative seeks to make handloom products more relevant to the changing preferences of modern consumers.

The collaboration is designed to unlock new design, product development and market opportunities for handloom clusters across Odisha, while strengthening the value proposition of handcrafted textiles. Formalised in the presence of Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government, Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department, Government of Odisha, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing Odisha’s handloom sector through sustainable fibre innovation. Through the integration of sustainable fibre technology, SADHAC and Birla Cellulose aim to promote environmentally responsible fabrics that appeal to consumers seeking products that balance cultural heritage with contemporary lifestyles. The partnership reflects a shared vision of revitalising India’s handloom sector by preserving Odisha’s rich weaving heritage and textile traditions while equipping artisan communities to compete in future-ready domestic and global markets.

Reflecting on the initiative, Manmohan Singh, Chief Marketing Officer, Birla Cellulose, says, ” Our partnerships represent a sustainable & high growth opportunity for small scale enterprises. By combining traditional weaving excellence with fibre innovation, weavers are able to harness the innovate faster, diversify offerings & are able to cater to the changing consumer preferences with greater agility.

The scale of engagement achieved over the past year highlights the momentum building across these clusters. More than 150 micro-meets and hub engagements have been conducted across states including Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The programme has added over 80 partners, trained approximately 7,000 weavers, and expanded its footprint across multiple weaving districts and production centres. Today, nearly 3,500 tonnes of fibre and yarn are being consumed annually within the handloom ecosystem through these efforts.

For Birla Cellulose, the initiative represents a broader effort to strengthen India’s handloom ecosystem by creating opportunities for artisans while introducing fibres that align with evolving market expectations. As an India first brand, Birla Cellulose is nurturing domestic textile value chains by bringing together innovation and tradition. The result is not a reinvention of handloom, but a thoughtful evolution of it, ensuring that India’s weaving heritage remains relevant, competitive and accessible for generations to come.

As twilight settled over the greens of Delhi Golf Club, with peacocks calling freely and centuries-old tombs standing quietly in the background, the venue itself seemed to participate in the moment. Bathed in natural beauty and heritage charm, the evening unfolded in rare stillness and grace—amplifying the soulfulness and serenity that defined the launch of The Healing Brush – True Stories from the Edge of Life, an intensely personal and profoundly moving work by Dr. Archana Singh former Art Therapist, Fortis Hospital Gurgaon. Dr Archana has been working at the intersection of AI, public policy, gender, health, climate and education, creating the blueprint for change where it’s needed most.

The Book, Healing Brush, Stories From The Edge of Life is an intimate chronicle of survival, vulnerability, and the strength of art therapy in the darkest moments of life. It is a book about art therapy and the impact it can have on people suffering from terminal illness. It captured Dr. Singh’s experiences as the in-house art therapist of the Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurgaon. She worked mostly with children suffering from cancer, helping them overcome fear, anxiety and uncertainty. She imparted courage, helped remove mental blocks and most importantly, let the children play, paint and draw, adding cheer to their lives.

The book, a compilation of 17 true stories of patients who were greatly helped by Dr. Archana Singh  and art therapy, was launched formally  by the author’s mother and a panel of eminent doctors, all of whom had interacted with Dr. Singh during her time in Fortis. The presence of her mother as Chief Guest lent the occasion a deeply personal resonance, grounding the evening in gratitude, lineage, and love.

A panel discussion followed, with Ms Anna Roy, Program Director and Principal Economic Advisor at NITI Aayog; Dr. Satyaprakash Oncologist from Medanta – The Medicity; Dr. Nandini Hazarika Bone Marrow Transplant and Oncologist from Rainbow Children’s Hospital; and Dr. Ramneek Mahajan , Chief of Robotic Orthopaedics and Chairperson at Max Super Speciality Hospital, moderated by Dr. Archana Singh. Together, they emphasized that in critical and life-threatening illnesses, medical treatment alone is never enough. While medicine may heal the body, true recovery demands equal attention to the mind and spirit. The doctors unanimously highlighted the need for integrated support systems—counselling, mental health care, emotional guidance, and creative therapies—stressing that healing must be holistic, compassionate, and continuous, extending far beyond prescriptions and procedures.

At the emotional heart of the evening was the story of Sayan Bajaj. Diagnosed with blood cancer at the age of eight, Sayan found refuge in art therapy during his treatment in 2013. Through games and interactive session with the art therapist Dr. Archana Singh , he processed grief, fear, and isolation. Today, at 23, cancer-free and pursuing law, his presence embodied the promise of recovery shaped by compassion and creativity.

Equally moving were the reflections of Sayan’s parents, who shared how art therapy supported not only their child, but themselves—helping them navigate anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion. They emphasised that supporting families of patients is as vital as treating patients, and urged hospitals to institutionalize art therapy as an essential support system alongside clinical care.

Adding another dimension to the evening was a therapeutic music session that gently dissolved boundaries between audience and experience. Guests like Cynthia Mc Caffrey Country Representative India, Joint Secretary Ms. Manmeet Nanda Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment found themselves singing, swaying, and smiling—rediscovering stillness and joy in the present moment.

The collective rhythm became a reminder that it’s important for each person to feel connected to themselves and to one another in this digitally pervasive day and age. The conversation resonated with national priorities, echoing the 2026 Union Budget’s emphasis on mental health for the first time in Indian history, Highlighting how emotional well-being is now central to GoI’s vision for youth empowerment, employability, and social resilience—particularly in an age shaped by digital isolation, psychological stress, and rising vulnerability among young people.

Against this backdrop, The Healing Brush emerged as both a memoir and a movement—a call to recognize mental and emotional care as foundational to sustainable development and humane healthcare.

More than a literary launch, the event was a testament to how stories—when told with honesty—can restore dignity, inspire policy, and reimagine healing.

The Healing Brush – True Stories from the Edge of Life is now available on Amazon.

Siliguri, March 2025: For over thirteen years, Siliguri-based designer Aayush Arya has been shaping refined residential spaces through his firm, 6Hues Architecture Studio. Known for merging luxury aesthetics with intelligent functionality, the studio specialises in high-end homes that feel both contemporary and deeply personal. Aayush is also an advocate for smart living, integrating advanced automation into his projects through his technology venture, Relay Automation.

Their latest creation, The Chromatic Iris, blurs the boundary between architectural lighting and digital art. Designed as a custom radial stretch-ceiling installation for immersive spaces like home cinemas, the fixture appears sleek and minimal by day. Powered by advanced DMX (Digital Multiplex) technology — commonly used in concert stage lighting — each segment of the installation can be individually addressed and programmed. This allows for seamless animations: from turbine-like motion effects to soft breathing gradients or deep monochromatic moods.

More than a light fixture, The Chromatic Iris transforms the ceiling into a dynamic canvas. It elevates the experience of a space — turning movie nights into cinematic events and everyday interiors into immersive environments. With this innovation, 6Hues Architecture Studio once again demonstrates how technology, design, and emotion can come together to redefine modern living.

Address:
6Hues Architecture Studio
Fourth Floor, Sapphire Square
Check Post, Siliguri WB 734001

Contact number: 9800 400 600
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Website: 6hues.com