Handloom Hackathon 2.0 Concludes at IIT Delhi

The second edition of Handloom Hackathon 2.0 – “Weaving Innovations” concluded successfully at the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi. Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles. The Hackathon attracted over 2,500 participants, with 280 participants representing the top 100 shortlisted teams from across the country to develop technology-driven solutions for India’s handloom sector.

The Hackathon provided a national platform for innovators, researchers, faculty members and handloom experts to address challenges relating to loom modernisation, design innovation, sustainability, market access and weaver livelihoods through technological interventions. The shortlisted teams showcased innovative solutions across diverse themes aimed at improving productivity, preserving traditional craftsmanship and enhancing the competitiveness of the handloom sector.

The event was graced by Dr. M. Beena, IAS, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, along with Dr. Deepti Gupta, Head, Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, IIT Delhi; Pankaj Kapadia, Secretary, IIT Delhi Alumni Association; and Sanjeeva Shivesh, Co-founder, ThinkStartup, reflecting the collaborative efforts of government, academia and industry in advancing innovation for the handloom sector.

Dr. Deepti Gupta stated that the forthcoming Centre of Excellence for Handloom Technology at IIT Delhi would strengthen the integration of technology with handloom, enabling greater standardisation and productivity while preserving the uniqueness of handcrafted textiles.

The winning teams represented various colleges such as KCG College of Technology, IIHT Salem, IIT Madras, Banaras Hindu University, Sri Eshwar College of Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, KLB IIHT Hyderabad, and the startup Savinya Studio.(UPDATED ON 2ND AUGUST 2026)