The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Chennai organises ‘POKKISHAM’ – Craft Bazaar 2026, a unique initiative to celebrate and promote the rich handloom and handicraft heritage of Tamil Nadu during 06, 07 March 2026.
The Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) Ms. Amrit Raj inaugurated the POKKISHAM’ – Craft Bazaar 2026 at the NIFT Campus, Chennai in the presence of Prof. Dr. Divya Satyan, Campus Director.
The Craft bazaar shall be open to the public (entry free) on 6th March 2026 – Friday – 1:00p.m to 7:00 p.m and 7th March 2026 – Saturday – 10:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m.
NIFT Chennai with active support from the Ministry of Textiles, Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has developed and implemented Craft Cluster Initiative Programs that aims to provide continuous exposure to the handloom and handicraft clusters. The initiative also provides an opportunity for creative innovation and experimentation to its makers.
Through this initiative, NIFT Chennai aims to reach out to the artisans and craftsmen at the grass root level and work with them hand in hand each year. The artisans and craftsmen involved in the initiative benefit through knowledge and skill building, new market linkages and new design interventions.
As part of NIFT’s Craft Cluster Initiative, ‘POKKISHAM’ aims to empower local artisans by providing them with a platform to showcase and sell their handcrafted products. To support their efforts, NIFT Chennai is offering artisans free stalls, wage loss compensation, travel allowance, lodging, and boarding at no cost. The event will feature a curated collection of 17 handlooms and handicrafts clusters with 30 artisans, including exquisite crafts like Paramakudi Sarees, Pulicat Palm Leaf Craft, Handlooms of Nagercoil and many more. The list of participants is as below:
Agastheeswaram Handlooms
Crochet Handicrafts
Dindugal Handlooms
Jayamkondom Sarees
Puducherry Candle crafts
Karuppur Kalamkari Products
Madurai Handlooms
Mahabalipuram Stone carving
Salem Bamboo Crafts
Sirumugai Kora silk Handlooms
Thirukkanur Papier Mache crafts
Toda Embroidery crafts
Paramakudi Handlooms
Puducherry Leather Embossing
Puducherry Paper crafts
Puducherry Paper Lampshades
Pulicat Palm Leaf crafts
Anana Fit, Natural Fibres, Anakaputhur
National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai is a premier institute of Design, Management and Technology set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. NIFT is granted statutory status under the Act of Parliament of India 2006, which empowers the Institute to award Bachelor's and Master's Degrees and other academic distinctions. The institute is accredited with ISO 9001:2015 standard.
***
AD/SH