AGARTALA, April 26 (TIWN): Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb on Thursday asked state handloom weavers to develop the marketing skill and identify the customers' demand.“Handloom is a beautiful craft, full of creativity. In machines, a pre-set design is fixed and the clothes are manufactured according to those designs, but in case of Handloom an artist can show her/his creativity and that's why handloom products are so close to heart. During designs the weaver keeps on adding her / his creativity in it”, CM said at Pragna Bhawan. “But at the same time, we need to learn from China and how China markets have developed internationally. China knows Tripura’s taste. They know which cloth will be used in Garia puja; they also know in North Dist what a Chakma girl will wear, but it doesn’t mean that the China people will wear those dresses. They manufacture them according to the market demands. China people use Dragon photos in dresses, but they do not manufacture them for other countries”, CM said.

“You have to compete with the mechanical industrial revolution which is going on across the globe. Now it’s not easy to compete with China as they are all in all in the international market”, CM said.

“At the same time, China has a big weakness, i.e. Quality, which is often questioned. But our products are not like them. So, we have to use that part and market our handloom products with quality and design”, CM said.

“Handloom has a great future as now a days Hollywood actors, actresses are also wearing such products. After 70 years of machine made products, Handloom is again coming back in the market”, CM said.

The Chief Minister also asked the handloom weavers to develop skill on how to speak with the customer or a person while representing their products.