A 20-member team from Swedish retailer IKEA was at Bhadohi, a small town in the hinterland of Uttar Pradesh, to kick-start a new 
initiative which will improve the productivity of the local hand-made carpet industry and also provide employment for women in the region. What is noteworthy is the fact that a global company like IKEA is investing its time, money and energies in reviving and improving the growth prospects of an industry which otherwise would have become history if not for these valuable interventions. IKEA has committed significant investment on setting up retail stores in India. Such initiatives will positively go a long way in winning the confidence of local industries and communities associated with them.
Carpet weaving in India can be traced back to the Mughal period in the 15th century when Akbar introduced the art in the country. Skilled craftsmen from Persia established themselves in India and created the most exquisite designer carpets which later got blended with the Indian art.
The Indian carpets are known for their aesthetic designs with special attention paid to every minute detail. The industry flourished more in the northern parts, particularly in centres like Kashmir, Jaipur, Agra and Bhadohi. These carpets are known for their high density of hand knotting and are in demand in Western countries.
Bhadohi district, also known as the ‘Carpet City’, is the largest hand-knotted carpet weaving industry hub in South Asia. While the Mirzapur-Bhadohi region is the largest hand-made carpet weaving cluster, engaging around 3.2 million people in the industry, Bhadohi alone employs 22 lakh rural artisans in its 100 per cent export-oriented industry, which accounts for about 75 per cent of the Rs. 4,400-crore total carpet exports from India.
Well-known carpet types from Bhadohi include cotton dhurries, chhapramir, loribaft, Indo Gabbeh, Nepalese and more recently 
shaggy type carpets. The carpet manufactured in the region, with its intricate designs and beautiful motifs, has attracted customers worldwide and has also received the geographical indication (GI) tag in 2010. The Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, the only one of its kind in Asia, was established in this district in 2001.
Punja weaving forms part of India’s glorious weaving tradition. This craft is mostly used for making durries (light woven rugs used as a kind of floor covering). The Punja durries are defined essentially by the use of the Punja (claw shaped tool) in weaving. They are known for their fairly bold colours and intricate patterns.
In India, carpet weaving has been a home-based small-scale industry and a secondary occupation. Production capacities are mostly fragmented and difficult to manage with very low output per person. Knowledge transfer is limited within families. This has been the reason for minimal technological advancement.
In the traditional punjalooms, the fundamental weaving presses such as shedding, picking and beating-up involved a lot of physical activity, repetitive hand movements and uncomfortable seating arrangements leading to fatigue on the part of the operator. Children and adults involved in carpet weaving were prone to a number of health and safety problems. Owing to the long training hours needed and the effort involved, there has been a major decline in weavers’ interest to take up this profession. To revive the profession and create sustainable business in the region, a real change in outlook was needed. Hence IKEA’s decision to bring innovation in the age-old loom.
IKEA, a Swedish home furnishings company founded by Ingvar Kamprad 60 years ago, offers a wide range of well-designed, functional, good quality, sustainable and low-priced home furnishing products. The company challenged the way handicraft is made in India and recently modified the traditional loom by unveiling its new Punja loom in Bhadohi. The new loom has been co-created with its Indian supplier, Eastern Home Industries. The loom is designed to produce better quality durries with its ergonomic design and ease of use.
“IKEA has introduced the new Punja loom that will facilitate the growth of a more competitive and sustainable carpet production, while also providing a better life for the weaver community. The new loom has the technology needed to transform the ru