Shillong, Feb 17: The Department of Textiles, Meghalaya has been awarded & recognized with a SPECIAL AWARD under the Textiles Sustainability Awards by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industries (CITI) coinciding with Bharat Tex 2025 Global Textiles Expo.

The Expo was organized by the Department of Textiles, being held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi with a focus on Textiles, Sustainability & Fashion.

It was informed by the Secretary General of CITI, that the jury was “highly impressed with the remarkable efforts of the Department of Textiles, Meghalaya towards Textile Heritage Revival”.

As conveyed by CITI, the Textiles Heritage Reviver Award by CITI-Alekh honors individuals and organizations towards” initiatives taken for driving the revival of Indigenous textile heritage, promoting sustainability, fostering innovation & empowering communities through impactful contributions to the sector”.

Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Principal Secretary, Textiles Department Meghalaya, received the Special Award on behalf of the state & Department, from Shri Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State, Textiles, Govt. of India, senior officials of Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Chairman CITI & other dignitaries on February 17 as part of the CITI Textiles Sustainability Awards 2024-25 at the Bharat Mandapam, on the concluding day of the second edition of the Bharat Tex Global Textiles Expo 2025.

The other highlights of the program included a showcasing of best practices of the awardees and Earth Loom -Threads of Heritage – a fashion showcase celebrating the sustainable heritage weaves of India and collections by designers from across the country including Meghalaya.

Amongst the initiatives taken by the Textiles Department since 2019, highlights include the official declaration & recognition of the Umden -Diwon village in Ri Bhoi district as Meghalaya’s first ERI Silk village in 2021, setting up of the Design Innovation Research Centre, (DIRC) in 2022, which showcases the entire value chain of Ryndia from farm to fiber.

Fibre to fabric, fabric to fashion to visitors, developing the Ryndia brand , pushing for GI tag for Ryndia ,setting up of Eri Corner at Megh Tex , availing Silk Samagra program to support Eri farmers, steering the ongoing execution of the iconic & upcoming Integrated Textile Tourism Project in Nongpoh, developing an e portal on Ryndia , supporting handloom cluster level programs, training & capacity building on new designs, documentation through Woven Narratives, showcasing indigenous weaves at National & international exhibitions, Dubai Expo, International Sericulture Commission,(ISC) Romana, Silk in Lyon, France 2022, G20 Craft Bazar, Italy, Vietnam 2023, Bharat Tex Global Expo 2024 & from time to time, supporting local production houses & designers cum entrepreneurs to participate and showcase their designs, creating wider visibility for the state’s indigenous weaves which are handspun, handwoven, eco friendly, naturally dyed, women driven , ethically sourced and organically produced right from thread to trend.