To promote Odisha’s rich handlooms, the handlooms, handicrafts and textiles department on Tuesday requested all government employees to wear hand-woven clothing, at least once a week. Principal secretary of the department Arabinda Padhee wrote a letter to all district collectors to ask government employees to voluntarily wear hand-woven fabrics once a week. “I wish to make heartfelt appeal for your consideration to request government employees working in your districts and other to voluntarily wear hand woven fabrics at least one day in a week,” Padhee wrote. “I humbly request you to be patrons and ambassadors of our rich handloom heritage,” he added. “The purpose of this appeal is to sustain our dexterous weavers and preserve their pristine art, besides establishing a conducive market environment,” the letter stated.