Our Story

The Pochampally Digital Cluster Programme is being initiated by DEF with financial support from Microsoft to develop a traditional skill based cluster as an integrated digitally enabled cluster to empower artisans, weavers and entrepreneurs for socio-economic prosperity. The project is being implemented in Pochampally district located in Yadadri Bhongir the new District of Telangana. Pochampally is surrounded by hills and lush green fields. It is the place where threads and colours find their way into the hands of skilful weavers and meander into the market as beautiful sarees and dress materials.

The famous Pochampally saree has won Intellectual Property Rights protection globally know as Geographical Indication (GI) Certification in 2005. It is the first traditional Indian craft to receive this status of geographical branding. The weavers of Pochampally are popular for their traditional and geometric patterns in Ikat style of dyeing. Ikat weaving involves an 18-step sequence of tying and dyeing sections of bundled yarn to a predetermined intricate colour pattern prior to weaving.

Spread over an attractive and charming part of the Deccan plateau, Pochampally, a cluster of 60 villages, has earned a name to reckon with in the map of popular weaving clusters of India. It is the single largest handloom of tie and dye cluster with about 1000 Pit looms and around 5000 artisans.

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Community Information and Resource Centre (CIRC):

CIRC’s of Pochampally are set up with computers, printers, scanners and all basic digital equipment together with Internet connectivity. CIRC spreads digital literacy and provides access to information-dark and marginalized communities. Setting up CIRC in Pochampally will help the weavers get empowered by exposing them to internet, new designs, market linkages; connecting them to both domestic and international market, helping them access the market, enhancing production according to the changing needs of domestic and international ikat lovers and in long run, stay self-sustained.

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Digital Designing and Archiving

Digital intervention in design through CAD/CAM allows weavers to introduce modern touch to the traditional designs, ensure product diversification and global market access. It will also enhance effectiveness and efficiency of the weaver community. DCDP also aims at developing interest of the youth through digital literacy, modern designing techniques on computer, introducing new and fresh product range for Pochampally ikat and other interventions so that youth migration can be reduced and more weavers can be prepared for the future. The traditional art can thus be preserved.

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Capacity Building and Skilling

Apart from digital literacy and information, Pochampally Digital Cluster also acts as an agent to build capacities of communities in the region. Numbers of workshops are organized at the center revolving around issues like menstrual health, skill development, environment consciousness in collaboration with other organizations and government bodies. Focus is laid on primary & tertiary skill development of cluster occupants to enhance their employability, livelihood, income and living conditions.

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Entrepreneurship Development

Believing in this philosophy of giving back to the community, Pochampally is dedicated not only towards benefiting the population of Pochampally through its organizational initiatives, but also towards encouraging the people for entrepreneurship and empowering them for true utilization of their skills for the betterment of society. With Pochampally, we are building the capacities of weavers, artisans, craftsmen, farmers and many other small scale businesses to flourish. This platform of the weavers, for the weavers and by the weavers, is managed by a network of weavers’ self-help groups through a common platform. It is a social entrepreneurial initiative towards escalating the sustainability levels and livelihood of the weavers’ community.

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Wireless for Community

Wireless Network for Communities (W4C) provides last mile connectivity to people in Pochampally block enabling them to stay connected worldwide. W4C specifically in weaving clusters provides weavers a scope to develop their businesses online through e-commerce and social media. It provides a platform for weavers to lift themselves from labourers to entrepreneurs. Pochampally acts as a facilitator in transitioning skilful weavers from mere daily wage earners to self-dependent entrepreneurs through various means.

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Handloom Tourism

Ministry of Tourism established Rural Tourism complex in Pochampally is one of United Nations Development Programs (UNDPs) of 36 rural tourism sites, and is supported by the Ministry of Tourism. The rural tourism complex is situated next to a serene lake called Pochampally Cheruvu. The tourism complex houses ikat weaving museum amphitheater to perform local art forms and guest house. The museum of the rural tourism complex displays all the varieties of ikat weaves like dress materials, sarees, variety of ikat designs, portraits of our National leaders like Indira Gandhi, Vinobha Bhave in ikat weave and different devices of ikat weave and pre-loom process is demonstrated for visitors.

Our Products

Conscious Clothing

Every product is hand woven in weaving households of Pochampally, strengthening livelihoods of the weavers and protecting the age of old art of weaving.

Lovingly Hand woven

Looms are threads are sacred to weavers. Each piece of cloth woven has a personal story and lots of love.

Comfort and Quality

Woven with great care and eye for details, cottons and silks used are of highest quality, and colours used are safe, natural and skin friendly.

Skillfully Crafted

The weavers in Pochampally have been crafting lovable fabric since time immemorial. One piece of fabric often requires hours & hours of labour and concentration.

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