The Lotus Silk Innovator: How Bijiyashanti Tongbram Is Redefining Handloom from Manipur.

In the quiet village of Thanga Tongbram by Loktak Lake in Manipur, a young woman named Bijiyashanti Tongbram is turning discarded lotus stems into one of the rarest fabrics on earth. Born in 1993 and trained in botany, she saw in the lotus more than just a symbol of purity — a source of sustainable creativity.

While studying at GP Women’s College in Imphal, Bijiyashanti wondered why only the lotus flowers were harvested from her surroundings, while the stems remained underutilised. She began researching aquatic plants, and realised that the lotus stem could yield delicate fibres that, when extracted carefully, became yarn. That idea eventually grew into her enterprise called Sanajing Sana Thambal.

Extracting lotus fibre is painstaking work. Bijiyashanti and her team collect fresh stems early each morning from the lake. The stems must be wet, or the fibre snaps — so she uses a moist wooden board to roll out the threads gently with her hands. These fine filaments are then dried in the sun and spun by hand into yarn, preserving the natural quality of this plant-based silk.

With her signature fabric she makes scarves, mufflers, neckties, shawls, and even plans to experiment with lotus-fibre face masks. Her silk-like cloth is woven using traditional handlooms, and the dyes she uses come from plants, keeping the process fully eco-friendly.

What makes her entrepreneurial journey so striking is the social impact. Bijiyashanti has built a women-centric workforce: around 30 local women now collect stems, spin the fibre, or help weave products. Many of them work from home, which gives them income while preserving their way of life.

Her work has attracted national attention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned her in his radio programme “Mann Ki Baat.” The 2024 India Republic Day tableau for Manipur also celebrated her as India’s first lotus silk producer, noting her role in women’s entrepreneurship.

Making lotus silk is not easy, and Bijiyashanti admits scaling the business remains a challenge. It takes months to produce even a single scarf because the extraction and weaving have to be done with extreme care. Her fabrics command premium prices for good reason: they are rare, handmade, botanical and sustainable.

Bijiyashanti’s journey is a powerful case study for entrepreneurship in India. She is not just building a business, but preserving craft, restoring value to nature, and building community livelihoods. Her vision is rooted deeply in place the lotus-studded Loktak Lake yet her ambition reaches far beyond, showing how Indian handloom can grow in harmony with sustainability.

If you want to experience her craft, check out products like the Lotus Silk Scarf, woven from lotus fibre, a pure example of eco-fashion and artisanal entrepreneurship.