So, where did you go shopping on your trip to India this time? I have always visited the little handloom shop in Pondy Bazaar, Chennai. I buy my share of handicrafts that come from Orissa and Bengal which I gift to my friends here in the U.S. Jayanthi and Uma, aunts from my husband's side took me to a handloom fair in Chennai to shop for my kurtis. This fair was put together by Co Optex(The Tamil Nadu handloom weavers cooperative society) to bring an awareness among people by presenting, not branded products but designs from local weavers and small handloom businesses from all over India. The designs were beautiful, affordable and above all the quality was good. I ended up buying a few saris too ! There are three important sections involved in the handloom industry, the weaver, the trader and the government. Of the three sections involved, due to the increase in prices of raw material the most affected in this industry are the weavers. The government provides policies for the forma...