Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 55/22

ERI WEAVE LAUNCHED ON 01.03.2022

Blending art and style, the brand “Eri Weave – Hand Woven Silk by Women of Meghalaya,” offering hand woven Eri silk product was launched today by Shri. G B Lynhdoh, MLA at Prime Startup Hub, J N Stadium, Polo, Shillong.

Founded by Smti. Iaishah Rymbai, one of the top 50 entrepreneurs of PRIME Cohort 2.0, Eri Weave is all about putting forward the hand spun eri silk yarn and hand-woven fabric.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. G B Lynhdoh while celebrating the tenacious spirit of Smti. Iaishah Rymbai in ensuring that her dreams became a reality, he said that Eri Weave speaks about our women, our culture, identity, our land and our dreams. Citing the example of Smti. Iaishah Rymbai, who started her cooperative movement with 5 members and also the success story of Milk Farmers of Umroi, Shri. Lyngdoh stressed on how supporting entrepreneurs and identifying right leadership can have a positive impact on livelihoods, engage youth and channelize their entrepreneurial abilities.

Addressing the gathering, Shri. F A Kharkongor, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Textiles, spoke about the Government’s initiative in reviving the brand “Ryndia” and informed that with the inclusion of weaving in addition to sericulture and rearing under Silk Samagra 2 Scheme, more weaving clusters will be developed in the state. He also informed that the Design Innovation Resource Centre in Diwon, which aims to give visitors the complete ‘farm to fibre and fibre to fabric’ experience will soon be inaugurated. He further urged all weavers to leverage on the organic process involved in producing eri which not only helps in preserving the environment but also in preserving an inherent part of our heritage.

Shri. K N Kumar, Chairman Farmer’s Welfare Commission in his address, lamented the fact out of 2000 plus cooperative societies existing in the state only 1740 are functional and most of which fall under c grade category. While most cooperative societies are desperately in need of support, Shri Kumar citing the example of Gujarat and Maharashtra where cooperatives have proven to be the engines of growth, stressed on the need for a more proactive role in the part of the Government to strengthen the cooperative sector.

Smti. Iaishah Rymbai sharing the story of her journey informed that she started her cooperative movement “Kamai haba Shongkai” with the help of five women who travelled from village to village to spread awareness about eri silk spinning and handloom weaving. Today the cooperative society has 100 members with a monthly revenue of 2 lakhs.