Pathanamthitta: As India celebrates National Handloom Day on August 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to support India's weavers by buying handloom products and showcasing the country's rich textile heritage. While millions may wear handlooms on the occasion, one school in Kerala has made it part of everyday life.

At Sri Adwayananda Public School in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district every student walks into class wearing a handwoven uniform. There are no synthetic fabrics or conventional school attire. Instead, students wear breathable handloom garments woven by local artisans- a choice that has transformed a school uniform into a statement of sustainability and cultural pride.

Rethinking the school uniform

The initiative, introduced three years ago, was inspired by a simple question: Why should Indian school uniforms continue to resemble colonial-era designs when the country has a rich textile tradition of its own? That question led the school to completely rethink its dress code.

"Our classrooms prepare students for a global future, but we also want them to remain connected to their roots," says Radhika Prasad Krishnachandran, Chairperson of the school and granddaughter of Sri Adwayananda. "We wanted a uniform that reflected Indian identity while also supporting traditional artisans. Every uniform our students wear is handwoven in Kerala," she adds.

Supporting local weavers

The uniforms are woven by the Kalliasseri Weavers Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd., a women-led cooperative in Kannur that has preserved traditional weaving techniques for generations.

The designs were created by Bengaluru-based Eternative Design, blending contemporary aesthetics with Kerala's handloom heritage. For the school, the initiative extends far beyond aesthetics. Every uniform purchased creates employment for local weavers. Every child wearing it becomes part of a larger effort to keep Kerala's handloom tradition alive.

Principal Meeja Kumari says the initiative has also changed how students view the clothes they wear:

"Our school began in 1987, and until a few years ago students came in coloured clothes because we didn't have a uniform. When we decided to introduce one, we wanted it to be meaningful. The colours are vibrant and the fabric is comfortable. More importantly, children learn about the people whose skill and hard work go into weaving these uniforms," she says.

The principal notes that the decision was also practical: “Handlooms are much more comfortable than synthetic fabrics, especially in Kerala's humid climate. It keeps students comfortable throughout the day."

Threads that unite students

In fact, this comfort is something students notice immediately. Class XII student Kshethra, who has studied at the school since Class IV, remembers life before the uniforms were introduced:

"The best part is that students were invited to give suggestions when the uniforms were being designed. Some of those ideas actually became part of the final design, so we feel connected to what we wear."

Her classmate Eleena believes the uniforms have become one of the school's defining features: "The design is unique. When we're outside together, people often ask us which school we're from because the uniforms stand out."

However, her greatest satisfaction comes from knowing the uniforms support local artisans: "We feel proud that by wearing these uniforms, we are helping promote India's rich handloom tradition and supporting local weavers and small traders, just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has encouraged on National Handloom Day."

On a day when the nation is celebrating handloom and recognising the contribution of India's weavers, the school offers a living example of how tradition can be woven into modern education- not just through textbooks, but through something every student wears with pride.