Bengaluru-based agri-tech start-up, ReshaMandi, is networking with handloom weavers in Varanasi to provide technical interventions addressing their root causes. The firm has been working towards digitisation of India’s silk supply chain.
Utkarsh Apoorva, Co-founder of ReshaMandi, informed in a statement and said, “Currently, ReshaMandi has a network of about 200 weavers in Varanasi who predominantly use handlooms, thus preserving the authentic art of traditional weaving.”
Restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a damaging impact on the silk weavers, as they lacked market linkages to procure silk yarns and sell their products to retailers, resulting in income losses, defaulting loans and threatening the survival of the community.
The company has collaborated with key stakeholders, envisioning an ‘atmanirbhar’ India in the silk production sector. Weaver communities in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have also been approached to address their issues, such as timely procurement of quality assured yarns, lack of working capital funds and quick turnover of final goods, using technical interventions.
The weavers claimed to have experienced a demand rise from retailers and gained 8 to 17 percent profitability in their manufacturing, as the Indian silk yarn procured from ReshaMandi allowed them to completely cut down the Chinese alternative.
ReshaMandi operates as a ‘grassroots-level enabler’, directly with sericulture farmers, fabric weavers, silk reelers and retailers. This enables marking of best price for the produce, reduced manufacturer-to-market time and ensures supply of high-quality raw materials and quality-assured testing kits.
Traditional interventions like yarn grading before dispatch are carried out, providing the weaver with quality products.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
