Meghalaya is firmly on the map of renown for its indigenous silk production, particularly Ryndia or Eri silk, commonly known as Peace or Ahimsa Silk. The potential of ryndia is immense not only for its exquisite beauty and texture but also for its sustainable, durable, and eco-friendly nature.
Organic, Sustainable, & Renewable
While the traditional art of ryndia production represents Meghalaya’s indigenous people’s rich cultural heritage and identity, it also offers a unique opportunity to infuse innovation and excitement into the fashion and textile world. Ryndia is produced entirely organically, with no harmful chemicals or pesticides, and harvested from naturally occurring silk-producing worms, and the entire process is environmentally friendly.
Modernizing Age-old Methods to Enhance Productivity
Even though traditional spinning and weaving methods have been central to the production of ryndia, producers can integrate modern technology to enhance productivity and infuse more finesse. Improvised hand-operated looms and spinning machines are already on deployment in the production process without compromising on the essence of the craft.
Until now, production at the village level occurs on a ‘spare time’ basis on traditional apparatuses, which are slow in productivity and low on finish. By adopting efficient techniques, artisans can meet the rising demand for sustainable textiles, keeping the organic integrity of the fabric intact.
Infusing Traditional Designs into Novel Creations
Traditional designs and motifs mirror Meghalaya’s rich cultural heritage. These intricate patterns, such as ‘thoh khyrwang’, “thohrew”, ‘khneng’, and ‘diamond design’, are rooted in the indigenous communities’ customs, beliefs, and folklore. Modern designers have examples of these designs to draw illustrations and blend them with contemporary ensembles and accessories. Fusing traditional motifs with present-day cuts and styles can create a harmonious blend, rendering the creation eyeappealing.
Breaking Monotony & Creating Excitement
Ryndia’s uniqueness lies in its distinctive texture, lustre, and feel, and this distinctiveness offers designers a fantastic opportunity to experiment. Fashion houses like Daniel Syiem’s and Kiniho have tried using this method in their drapes and silhouettes. Creators have also tried mixing and layering ryndia with other natural fabrics like mulberry silk, cotton, or jute, resulting in multidimensional captivating displays.
Additionally, dyers and embroiderers can explore novel methods to add vibrance and colour to the palette further, thus breaking convention’s monotony.
Promoting Responsible Fashion
As consumers increasingly embrace sustainable and ethical fashion, ryndia can potentially be pivotal in promoting responsible fashion choices. Designers and fashion houses can capitalize on this natural fabric as their signature material and showcase their commitment to ethical practices and environmental conservation. This strategy will generate a domino effect, stimulating demand for ryndia and helping producers at the grassroots level upgrade economically.
Ryndia from Meghalaya presents an exciting opportunity for producers, fashion designers, and clothiers to embark on a journey of sustainable innovation with the fabric. Blending modern techniques and designs with traditional ones will enhance and preserve the art form’s productivity. Coupling age-old designs and motifs will add cultural significance and depth to contemporary fashion, offering consumers unique and environmentally responsible choices.
Government Initiatives
The Government of Meghalaya has already foreseen the potential of ryndia to uplift its people’s livelihoods and showcase the State’s ancient craft to the world, thereby enhancing the economy through initiatives like Eri Tourism. It has already launched the First Eri Silk Village in RiBhoi, and the Department of Textiles’Design, Innovation & Resource Centre has set up a collaboration with the National Institute of Fashion Technology to act as a medium for weavers to innovate, record, and share information on new techniques and processes.
In conclusion, by promoting ryndia, the stakeholders - rearers, spinners, weavers and dyers - including the fashion industry and the government can take a great leap into a more meaningful, sustainable, and exciting future.
