NEHHDC Yarn Depot, Arunachal Pradesh: Powering Sustainable Weaving in North-East India
- NEHHDC
- Sep 16, 2025
- 4 min read
In the vibrant handloom and textile communities of Northeast India, quality raw materials have often been a bottleneck. Weavers frequently face challenges in getting authentic, certified yarns locally, which delays production, increases cost, or forces compromise on quality. Recognizing this gap, the North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd (NEHHDC) has launched its Authorized Yarn Depot in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, under its “Purbashree Yarn” brand. This depot works hand-in-hand with the recently inaugurated Eri Silk Spinning Mill, Baksa (Assam) — the largest of its kind in the North East — forming a sustainable, traceable supply chain for Ahimsa and Eri silk.
Together, the Yarn Depot and the Mill promise to elevate the earning power of artisans & weavers, ensure access to certified eco-friendly yarns, and open doors to both national and export market demands.
How Big is the Eri Silk Spinning Mill, Baksa?
The facility is located in the Integrated Textile Park, Mushalpur (Baksa district), Assam, covering an area of 12,916 sq ft.
Cost of establishment was approx. ₹14.92 crore.
Equipped with 960 ring-frame spindles, enabling fine spinning operations.
Daily production capacity is around 450-461 kg of Eri silk yarn per day.
Provides direct employment to approx. 375 persons, with indirect benefits for ~50,000 households involved in cocoon rearing, weaving, and auxiliary supply chains.
What Is the NEHHDC Yarn Depot (Itanagar)?
On 27 August 2025, NEHHDC inaugurated its Authorized Yarn Depot at Khinam Fashion House, Itanagar.
Key features:
Supplies Purbashree Yarn, including specialized varieties like Ahimsa Silk and Premium Eri Silk Yarn.
Yarns are certified under OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, ensuring safety and environmental compliance—a key for both domestic and export markets.
Designed to provide direct access to quality yarn for artisans and weavers of Arunachal Pradesh, reducing the friction of procurement, time, cost, and authenticity concerns.
Strategic location: Khinam Fashion House serves as a convenient centre for weavers, designers, and SHGs.
Why Depot + Mill = A Strong Value Chain
1. Supply Reliability & Consistency
The Baksa mill produces large volumes (≈ 450-460 kg/day) of Eri silk yarn with modern equipment. This scale, when channelled via regional depots like Itanagar, ensures a steady supply of yarns of consistent quality, colour, texture and count. It helps avoid delays and spec-mismatches that weaken trust in supply.
2. Quality & Certification
Buyers (weavers, designers, exporters) increasingly demand traceability, eco-credentials, non-toxic processing, especially in global markets. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification at the depot level, along with authentic Eri silk yarn from a government-backed mill, boosts those credentials.
3. Cost & Access
Traditionally, weavers may have to travel or pay freight/transport, intermediaries’ markups, or accept inferior yarns due to scarcity. Local depot access cuts transportation costs, reduces delays, cuts down spoilage or damage, and improves margins for artisans.
4. Livelihood & Local Economy
Direct employment in the mill (~375) and indirect employment in cocoon rearing, transport, weaving, packaging benefitting over 50,000 households.
Depots also generate local business: for packaging, local transport, sample sets, dyeing (if applicable), etc.
Women and tribal communities benefit strongly (Eri silk is deeply embedded in tribal livelihoods in Assam and the broader Northeast).
Sustainability, Ethics & Technical Aspects
Ahimsa / Peace Silk: Eri silk is known as cruelty-free because cocoons are allowed to complete their life cycle; the silkworm emerges naturally, unlike in many silk cultivations. This ethical fibre appeals to conscious fashion segments.
Eco-friendly standards: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 ensures that the yarns have been tested for harmful substances. This matters both for wearer safety and for meeting international norms.
Natural dyeing / Low-impact processing (where applicable) further enhances appeal for brands seeking sustainability. Even if dyeing isn’t fully natural throughout, the transparency in process helps.
Biodegradability & heritage: Eri silk fibres are natural, biodegradable, and carry strong traditional & regional culture, aiding storytelling and value addition.
Market Potential & Applications
Because of the combined strength of the mill + depot model, Purbashree Eri Yarn is well suited for multiple markets:
Domestic handloom clusters — shawls, stoles, scarves, traditional wear
Designer studios — blended fabrics, craft series, slow fashion
Exports — luxury home décor, sustainable fashion brands abroad want certified, traceable yarns
Niche and ethical fashion — vegan, cruelty-free textile lines, wellness wear, baby clothing (due to softness & hypoallergenic properties)
Home textiles — curtains, throws, cushion covers needing fine yarns
Challenges that Need Managing
To fully realise the potential, certain challenges must be addressed:
1. Cocoon Supply Stability – Production of quality Eri cocoons in sufficient volumes is crucial. Any disruption in raw cocoon supply will bottleneck the spinning mill.
2. Transportation & Logistics – Even though depot reduces last-mile friction, getting yarn from mill to depots & from depots to remote artisans needs reliable transport, warehousing, and cost control.
3. Demand Forecasting & Inventory Management – Ensuring depot stock matches local demand (counts, shades, etc.) and avoids overstock or stockouts.
4. Awareness & Training – For artisans to appreciate certified yarns vs cheaper substitutions; training on handling, colourfastness, maintenance.
5. Price Sensitivity – Certified, quality materials often cost more; balancing affordability for local weavers without compromising margins for mill or depot.
Future Prospects
Looking ahead, expansion of this model could include:
Setting up more Yarn Depots across other districts/states in the North-East to bring down travel, time, and cost further.
Introducing different yarn counts, blends, dyed & undyed options, bespoke specs for designers.
Enhancing lab infrastructure / digital traceability so that buyers (domestic & international) can verify every batch.
Capacity building for weavers on quality, finishing, colour fastness, sustainable garment care to uphold reputation.
Promotion of the yarn in national & international trade fairs, ethical fashion forums.
Conclusion
The coupling of the NEHHDC Eri Silk Spinning Mill, Baksa with the NEHHDC Yarn Depot, Itanagar is more than an infrastructure investment. It’s a transformative move in the Northeast textile ecosystem. By ensuring authentic, certified, and affordable yarn access close to the weaver’s loom, this initiative strengthens livelihoods, supports sustainability, increases market competitiveness, and preserves regional textile heritage.
If you are a weaver, designer, or brand interested in elevating your craft with certified Ahimsa or Eri silk, now is the time to connect with Purbashree Yarn via NEHHDC depots or through direct orders from the Baksa mill.
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