Shillong, April 2: In a major achievement for Meghalaya’s textile industry, its handwoven, handspun, naturally dyed, organically produced, ethically sourced fabric ‘Ryndia’, along with ‘Meghalaya Handloom Products’ have been officially granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Government of India.

The announcement was made by the Geographical Indications Registry, under the Intellectual Property Office, and the registration details have been published on the GI Authority’s official website.

GI or Geographical Indication is a name or a sign accorded to products from a specific geographical location.

This prestigious recognition is the fruit of four years of hard work by the Department of Textiles, Government of Meghalaya. The Department, with support from NABARD and technical assistance from GI expert Dr. Rajnikanth, had actively facilitated and supported the joint applications made by the Textiles Department and the Meghalaya Ryndia Producers Association for getting the GI tag for ‘Ryndia’, following the declaration of Umden-Diwon as Meghalaya’s first Eri Silk Village on February 12, 2021.

Leading up to the GI recognition, Principal Secretary of the Department of Textiles, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, led a delegation—including Textiles Department officials, members of the Meghalaya Ryndia Producers Association, and skilled artisans—to present their case at the final Consultative GI Group meeting in Kolkata on November 20, 2024.

Ryndia, often called Peace Silk or Ahimsa Silk, has a history spanning over a thousand years. Woven by indigenous Khasi, Bhoi, and Jaintia artisans, this eco-friendly fabric is produced without chemical dyes, relying instead on organic pigments derived from local plants. Renowned for its luxurious texture and durability, Ryndia is gaining popularity as a premium textile suitable for both everyday wear and high fashion.’

The traditional Ryndia textiles of the Khasis are used as stoles/ shawls. For women tribes of Meghalaya Spinning and weaving are their exclusive monopoly. Weaving is a full time job for them. Ryndia-culture and weaving are important activities for generating supplementary income and providing a much needed opportunity for women to contribute further to the family, especially for the elderly and the young mothers who are not able to go out to the fields.

The Khasi geographical area of Meghalaya is known for its fabric made of hand spun Eri a silk yarn in traditional colors. The artistic sustainable impulse power of Khasi tribes is providing a rich traditional and cultural heritage in which women can use and improve their weaving skills to create artisans‘ products that can be sold both locally and internationally. Weaving is an ancient craft of the Khasi tribals of Meghalaya. It has a rich variety of hand-woven textiles, with unique characteristics that reflect the state and its skilled artisans

The Khasi women from the area participate in the economic, social and cultural activities of the handloom sector. They are also protecting the rich eco-system of Meghalaya with the use of natural materials and traditional, yet innovative methods.

The women weaver provides a safe haven for sericulture and weaving. These are the two most important cottage based, eco-friendly industries in the rural areas of the Meghalaya state, which is known for the production of hand-woven silk fabrics and hand-woven fabrics of ethnic designs.

The GI recognition for Meghalaya’s Ryndia and textiles aligns with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s vision of leveraging the state’s cultural heritage as a soft power. Minister of Textiles Paul Lyngdoh has also played a crucial role in promoting Meghalaya’s unique products, ensuring they gain visibility on national and global platforms.

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