Aradhana Pandey, TwoCircles.net
Banaras is known for its temples and ghats. But another legacy breathes quietly in its narrow lanes – the art of handloom weaving. This tradition has been passed down for generations. And now, a fresh spark has been added to it by Dr. Angika Kushwaha.
Once a professor, she left the comfort of a classroom to pick up a loom. It was a bold step. But for her, it was the right one.
Pineapple sarees being woven in an Angika factory
She had spent years studying and teaching. On paper, everything looked perfect, but something inside her was unsettled. She felt her work was not touching the lives she wanted to change. That feeling led her to villages and to women who had the skills to weave but no support. Their craft was fading, lost in time and neglect.
Angika began a new journey in 2019. She began research at Banasthali Vidyapith in Rajasthan. Her goal was to make yarn from pineapple leaves. These leaves are thrown away after harvest. But in some countries, people were already using them to make cloth. That idea stayed with her.
It was not easy. There were no clear answers or examples to follow. Collecting the leaves, learning how to extract the fiber and turning it into thread took time. She failed many times. But she did not stop.
She set up a small lab in Ramnagar and named it Angika Hathkargha. She slowly learned there how to turn waste into wonder. After many trials, she finally created soft and shiny yarn from pineapple leaves.
This yarn was not only beautiful but also strong and sustainable. It did not harm the planet. It in fact helped it. Clothes made from this yarn are breathable, smell fresh and last long. They even protect the skin from harmful sun rays. One kilogram of yarn makes about three metres of cloth. It costs around Rs 500-600 per metre to produce and can sell for Rs 800 or more.
Today, Angika’s fabric is used for saris, shirts and suits. It looks elegant. And it tells a powerful story.
What makes this work even more special is the change it brings to lives. Once seen as waste, pineapple leaves are now valuable. Women weavers, once losing hope, are now finding new purpose. In addition to making clothes, Angika is stitching confidence, dignity and pride into every thread.
She received her PhD from the Vice President of India in 2024. But her real success lies in the hands she is helping and the hearts she is inspiring.
Dr. Angika with Governor Anandi Ben Patel
Dr Angika believes pineapple yarn can one day replace linen. It is cheaper, stronger and kinder to the earth.