RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Narasapuram’s legendary lace craft, once celebrated across the world for its intricate hand-woven elegance, is now preparing for a powerful comeback. At Seetharampuram, the Lace Park, established under the Union Textiles Ministry and the Central Handicrafts Development Corporation, was once a bustling hub of training, production, and international trade support.
Fifty-one societies were linked to it, and dedicated buildings were constructed under the Alankruthi Mini Lace Parks initiative. Modern sewing machines were procured, and an international trade centre had begun operations. What was once a thriving centre of skill development and marketing support turned into a silent cluster, leaving thousands of women artisans without work.
The Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government has stepped in with a promise to restore the park’s past glory. In collaboration with NABARD, an MoU has been signed with an NGO for a five-year programme aimed at training women in advanced designs, enhancing individual craftsmanship and ensuring strong marketing channels for their products. NABARD teams have already inspected the park three times in two months, reviewing product quality and assessing revival plans.
Speaking to the TNIE, West Godavari Collector C Nagarani said that in March 2024 the Alankruthi Lace Park crochet-lace craft received the Geographical Indication tag, officially recognising its unique origin and craftsmanship across 11 mandals in the district. This certification has helped revive global interest and demand, leading to increased product variety (over 500 types now) and renewed livelihood opportunities for local artisans. She said that in July 2025 Narasapur Crochet Lace Products secured a prestigious ODOP award, affirming the State’s efforts to promote traditional craftsmanship.
“The future approach is to enhance skill-upgradation training programmes on crochet lace and industrial sewing-machine operations for 1,000 artisans and skill training for another 1,000 beginners. Procure different types of raw material through a raw-material bank and provide marketing support through buyer-seller meets and exhibitions,” the Collector said.
DRDA Project Director MSS-Venugopal said the annual turnover is Rs 26 crore and that, on average, a woman engaged in crochet-lace weaving earns between Rs 12,000 and Rs 20,000 per month. The Narasapuram lace industry has earned notable distinctions recently — last July it secured the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag and was recognised under the central One District One Product awards. Adding momentum, Collector Nagarani facilitated Rs 4 lakh in CSR loans. Around 200 artisans have been provided with raw materials, allowing them to create diverse lace products now showcased at exhibitions for market reach.
Venugopal stated that full-scale operations are expected to resume within two months. He said that across West Godavari and nearby regions, nearly 95,000 women from 250 villages depend on lacemaking, supported by nearly 50 exporters. With the revival measures underway, hopes are high that Narasapuram lace will once again shine on global platforms, restoring pride, and prosperity for thousands of women artisans.
