French textile artist Isabelle Moulin promotes Indian silk on collaborative trip

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Apr 11, 2022

French textile artist Isabelle Moulin travelled to Murshidabad to ascertain its potential as part of a bilateral project between France and India and said India has the potential to play a leading role in the evolving global silk market. 

Moulin’s trip is part of a wider initiative to promote bilateral cooperation between India and France centring around design and textiles, with an emphasis on silk in India, Indian Express reported. By visiting Murshidabad, Moulin looked into adding the city to a global network of silk hubs. 
 
“Now we have nine countries and 13 cities,” Moulin told the Press Trust of India about the initiative. “If everything goes well then with time I hope Murshidabad silk too can make it to the network.”

The network is designed to aid artisans and craftsmen to exchange knowledge, build trade relations, and understand a range of craft techniques.
 
“Till now, Indian silk was only catering as a fabric for the Indian people and not much export was done,” Moulin told the Press Trust of India, following a visit to Murshidabad. “Now with the open market, I am sure India will catch up as far as the use of silk is concerned in various sectors. With the evolution of products and climate change, we aim to find new ways to produce silk, and protect the mulberry falling prey to climate change.”
 
As part of her trip, Moulin also met with members of the Crafts Council of West Bengal. The organisation offered its support towards promoting and innovating Indian silk, according to Moulin.