How NEHHDC is Transforming the North East Handloom Sector Through Digital Traceability

The North East of India is one of the richest craft ecosystems in the country.Home to the largest number of handloom weavers in India, the region is known for its vibrant textiles, intricate handicrafts, and multiple Geographical Indication (GI) products.

Yet despite this cultural wealth, the sector faces a profound challenge: proving authenticity in a market flooded with counterfeits.

This is the story of how NEHHDC leveraged technology to safeguard artisans, elevate regional crafts, and build powerful traceable brands from the North East.

The Challenge: Authenticity Under Threat

The handloom and craft sectors in the North East have long struggled with:

• Rampant counterfeits diluting the value of authentic handmade products

• Difficulty verifying the origin and craftsmanship of textiles

• Limited visibility for genuine artisans

• Underrepresentation in national and global markets

For a region known for its heritage weaving traditions, the lack of authentication threatened both economic opportunity and cultural identity.

The Transformation: NEHHDC Adopts Digital Authentication & Traceability

To protect and elevate North Eastern crafts, NEHHDC implemented KOSHA’s authentication and traceability technologies, ensuring that every product could be traced back to the weaver level.

Key modules deployed:

• Artisan Management

• Design Management

• Production Management

• Costing & Inventory

• Reporting

These digital systems helped NEHHDC build transparency across the production cycle — from design to finishing.

The Impact: Powerful Brand Building Through Traceability

1. Over 5,000 high-end traceable products created

NEHHDC produced thousands of premium handloom and handicraft products, each digitally linked to the weaver who made it.These products have been showcased and appreciated at major national and international forums.

2. Global demand, including interest from European luxury brands

Because these products carried authenticity and verifiable origin, they drew attention from global luxury buyers — a strong validation of the region’s craftsmanship.

3. Expansion to over 10,000 looms

With the success of the initiative, NEHHDC scaled the technology across 10,000+ looms in the North East, bringing thousands of artisans into the traceability ecosystem.

4. Stronger branding through real-time consumer experiences

NEHHDC used real-time video–based traceability to give consumers a more immersive and realistic view of the weaving process.This deepened customer engagement and built trust around the authenticity of the products.

5. Awareness through traceability-focused exhibitions

To educate consumers, NEHHDC organized exhibitions centered on traceability — showcasing how genuine handloom is made and why it deserves recognition.This significantly increased visibility for North Eastern crafts both in India and abroad.

Conclusion

By embracing authentication and traceability, NEHHDC has strengthened the North East’s handloom identity on the national and global stage.

The initiative has:

• Protected artisans

• Elevated the value of handmade products

• Built demand for genuine craft

• Created a transparent brand ecosystem rooted in culture and trust

NEHHDC’s work proves that when technology meets tradition, entire craft regions can be revitalized — preserving heritage while opening doors to new markets and global audiences.