Siliguri, December 26 (Siliguri Chronicle) – As winter sets in, memories of childhood woollen clothes resurface for many. Yet, with changing times and the rise of machine-made products, handmade woollen garments and crafts are slowly disappearing.
Amid this decline, a young woman has chosen a different path. Refusing to let the traditional craft fade away, she continues to practise and promote handmade wool work, preserving a skill passed down through generations while shaping her own future through it.
Popy Roy, a recent college graduate from Ektiasal in Khudiram Pally, is crafting a wide range of woollen products such as sweaters, jackets, mufflers, cushions and even decorative wool bouquets. All her handmade items are sold at very affordable prices, making traditional wool craft accessible to a wider section of people.
Popy said she first learned the art of wool craft from her mother and later picked up new designs and techniques through social media platforms. She added that with special initiatives and support from the government, more people could be encouraged to take up this traditional craft as a livelihood.
She also said that she is willing to personally teach anyone interested in learning the craft. According to Popy, people who spend their days sitting idle at home or wasting time on mobile phones can turn this skill into a source of income by learning wool craft.
She noted that while the demand for woollen products usually peaks during the four to five months of the winter season, there is a steady demand for her handmade items throughout the year.
