The Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles

What The Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles does

The Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles is a Government of Kerala department established in 1979 and headquartered at Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram. It functions as the state regulator, scheme administrator, and brand custodian for Kerala's handloom sector, overseeing operations across all 14 districts and stewarding five Geographical Indication tags covering Balaramapuram sarees, Kasaragod sarees, Kuthampully sarees and dhotis, and Chendamangalam dhotis. Its principal operating line is the Kerala School Handloom Uniform Scheme, which has cumulatively disbursed Rs. 601.48 crore, distributed 236.32 lakh metres of fabric, and currently engages 6,152 weavers and 1,600 ancillary workers producing 42.50 lakh metres annually for 9.50 lakh students.

The Directorate runs weaver welfare programmes including a Health Support Programme and a Production Incentive Scheme, and operates three digital portals (HandSUM, Online Scheme Application Management, and Handloom Jalakam) to digitise weaver registration and scheme delivery. It distributes the state-backed Kerala Handloom Mark "ക" (KIT) to certify authentic Kerala handloom products, and coordinates with the Ministry of Textiles (Government of India), the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, IIHT Kannur, the Kerala State Textile Corporation (Hantex), and Hanveev outlets for scheme integration and market access.

As a non-commercial state body, the Directorate does not generate revenue in the traditional sense; its funding flows from the Government of Kerala and the Government of India, and its operating model is statutory regulation, procurement-driven demand creation for weavers, and origin-based product certification rather than product sales to commercial customers.

Name

The Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles

Legal name

Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles

Website

https://handloom.kerala.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles is a Government of Kerala department, established in 1979, that regulates the state's handloom sector, administers welfare and uniform-procurement schemes for 6,152 weavers, and stewards five GI-tagged Kerala handloom products across all 14 districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Textile Administration

NAICS

Broadwoven Fabric Mills (313210), Fabric Mills (3132), Textile Product Mills (314)

SIC

Textile Mill Products (2200), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Cotton (2211), Knitting Mills (2250), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAOABAA

Greige Woven Fabric Mills

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Textiles, Apparel & Leather Manufacturing/Fabric & Textile Mills (Woven/Knitted/Nonwoven)

SECONDARYCRAOADAH

Textiles & Fabric / Piece Goods Wholesale

Consumer Products & Retail/Wholesale, Distribution & Category Management/Apparel, Footwear & Accessories Wholesale

Keywords

• Handloom promotion services
• Government textile schemes
• Weaver welfare programs
• Cooperative handloom development
• GI-tagged handloom products

Headquarters

HQ city

Kasaragod, Kerala

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Core offering

The Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles is a state government department under the Industries, Commerce, IT & AI Department of the Government of Kerala, established in 1979. It administers welfare schemes, subsidies, infrastructure support, marketing assistance, raw material supply, skill training, and modernization grants for handloom and power loom weavers and cooperatives. It also manages the Free Handloom School Uniform scheme and oversees GI-tagged handloom products including Balaramapuram, Kasaragod, Kuthampully, and Chendamangalam sarees and dhoties.

Product overview

The Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles Kerala operates a multi-pronged digital presence comprising five GI-tagged handloom products (Balaramapuram Sarees, Kasaragod Sarees, Kuthampully Sarees, Kuthampully Dhoties & Set Mundu, and Chendamangalam Dhoties & Set Mundu), three online service portals (HandSUM, Online Scheme Application Management, and Handloom Jalakam), and manages schemes supporting handloom weavers. The website functions as both a product showcase and government service delivery platform for Kerala's traditional textile industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Balaramapuram Sarees and Fine Cotton Fabrics
• Kasaragod Sarees Handloom sarees from Kasaragod district with distinctive color combinations using vat dyes, known for check designs with solid borders or plain sarees with Butta designs, free from shrinkage and fading. GI-tagged heritage product for consumers.
• Kuthampully Sarees Handwoven sarees from Kuthampully village in Thrissur district featuring Kasavu (golden thread borders), woven by Devanka community with 84 count knitting pattern. GI-tagged saree product for traditional wear consumers.
• Kuthampully Dhoties & Set Mundu Traditional dhoties and set mundu from Kuthampully village near Thiruvilwamala in Thrissur district, featuring Kasavu golden thread borders, woven by Devanka community using 100% cotton cloth and jacquard designs. GI-tagged handloom menswear for traditional occasion consumers.
• Chendamangalam Dhoties & Set Mundu Premium handlooms from Chendamangalam Handloom Village 30km from Ernakulam town, famous for Set Mundu and Dhoti with puliyilakara (tamarind leaf border) and Kasavu, using organic natural dyes. GI-tagged premium heritage product for traditional wear consumers.
• HandSUM Portal Online portal for handloom sector services, scheme applications, and digital transactions managed by the Directorate. Used by weavers, cooperatives, and district offices across Kerala.
• Online Scheme Application Management System Digital platform for applying to government schemes for handloom weavers and textile workers in Kerala. Used by registered weavers, cooperative societies, and ancillary workers to apply for subsidies and welfare benefits.
• Handloom Jalakam Online platform for handloom-related services and information dissemination hosted by Keltron. Used by weavers and allied workers for scheme information and access.
• Free Handloom School Uniform Scheme Flagship scheme that distributes two sets of handloom uniforms annually to approximately 9.50 lakh government school students (Class 1-7) and aided school students (Class 1-4) in Kerala, producing 42.50 lakh metres of fabric per year. Provides direct order pipeline for handloom weavers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free Handloom School Uniform scheme distributes 2 sets per child to approximately 9.50 lakh students annually, producing 42.50 lakh metres of fabric per year
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) KannurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIHT Kannur provides professional designer placement at Hantex and Hanveev design centres; offers training to weavers; processes stipend disbursements for DHTC diploma students.
• Hantex (Kerala State Handloom Weavers' Apex Co-operative Society)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner
• Hanveev (Kerala State Handloom and Powerloom Workers' Central Co-operative Society)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner
• Ministry of Textiles, Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner
• Office of Development Commissioner for HandloomscoreOthers
• Kerala State Textile Corporation Ltd. (STC)minorOthers

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• APCO (Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society): State-level handloom cooperative society marketing handloom products from Andhra Pradesh through showrooms and online channels. Comparable as a parallel state-level apex body to Hantex in Kerala, operating on the same cooperative-and-showroom model for handloom sarees and fabrics.
• Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms): Central government office under the Ministry of Textiles that oversees policy, cluster development, and welfare schemes for handloom weavers nationally. Most directly comparable as the federal peer counterpart to the Kerala state Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles, with which it already has an active partnership relationship.
• Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC): Export promotion body recognised by the Ministry of Textiles that supports handloom marketing and exports for member producers and cooperatives. Comparable because export promotion is one of the explicit mandates of the Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles, and HEPC plays a parallel role for the broader Indian handloom sector.
• Karnataka State Handloom Development Corporation Ltd: Karnataka state corporation promoting handloom products, providing marketing support, and delivering welfare programmes to weavers. Peer in mandate and structure to the Kerala directorate — state-owned vehicle for handloom sector promotion and weaver welfare.
• Tamil Nadu Co-optex: State apex handloom cooperative society in Tamil Nadu selling handloom textiles through retail showrooms. Directly comparable in business model and product category to the Hantex and Hanveev apex societies overseen by the Kerala directorate.
• Rajasthan State Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (RAJSICO): Rajasthan state corporation tasked with developing the handloom sector, marketing handloom products, and implementing welfare schemes for weavers. Comparable as a state-level parallel body performing the same combination of marketing, training, and scheme delivery roles as the Kerala Directorate.
• Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd: State-owned corporation in Manipur focused on handloom and handicraft marketing, training, and welfare programmes. Comparable in being a state-level body that combines welfare scheme administration with marketing of GI-recognised traditional handloom products, much like the Kerala directorate does for Kasavu and Balaramapuram sarees.
• National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC) Ltd: Central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles that implements handloom welfare schemes such as yarn supply, marketing support, and design development across India. Directly comparable to the Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles as a peer implementing body for handloom sector programmes, with overlapping scheme infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-directorate-of-handlooms-and-textiles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles