Trending: At Smriti Irani's Behest, Twitter Posts #IWearHandloom Pics

Smriti Irani, recently appointed Union Cabinet Minister of Textiles, has started a new trend on Twitter.

In an attempt to encourage support for weavers, the minister shared a picture of herself dressed in a handwoven silk saree from Bihar, hashtagged #IWearHandloom on Monday. Starting a social media campaign, Ms Irani has urged people to follow suit and share pictures of themselves in handloom textiles, tagging five others.

"Indian handlooms symbolise India's heritage & culture. Wear it to carry on our rich tradition and support 43 lakh weavers & their families," Ms Irani tweeted, before sharing her photo. She tagged Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who has now resigned her post, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi.

Since tweeting before three hours of writing this, Ms Irani's picture has received over 1,000 retweets and almost 2,000 'likes.'

I support Indian weavers, here's my #IWearHandloom look - Handwoven Silk from Bihar. Share your look & tag 5 people pic.twitter.com/1NOuueJ0mS

- Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) August 1, 2016

#IWearHandloom - A nice initiative by .@TexMinIndia to spread the importance of textile & handloom sector! pic.twitter.com/LlI4DKwrqV

- Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 1, 2016

The hashtag caught on swiftly, with Twitter sharing pictures of their own, making #IWearHandloom trend.
 

#IWearHandloom in support of khadi and handloom @smritiirani @PratimaSinghBB @prashanti14 @AkankshaSingh4 #khadi pic.twitter.com/YdGI8iyGR4

- Divya Singh (@Divyasingh04) August 1, 2016

@smritiirani Wonderful initiative. Why limit #IWearHandloom to women? :)
Here's extending the challenge to 5 men pic.twitter.com/umqF3JCKtx

- Anuraag Saxena (@anuraag_saxena) August 1, 2016

@smritiirani mom,sis & me we all wear handloom #iwearhandloom #kolkottasilk #kotasilk @Archanaapania @piyubhar pic.twitter.com/YMrXn6q5Lx

- RJ Malvika (@ItemMalvika) August 1, 2016

#IWearHandloom: supporting #Indian weavers, arts & crafts. Time is right for this tiny revolution! pic.twitter.com/e9wqFS1vII

- Ruchira Kamboj (@RuchiraKamboj) August 1, 2016

As a matter of fact,I always wear handloom specially #Banarashandloom
Thanks @smritiirani for this #IWearHandloom pic.twitter.com/BM6jIwOgBt

- Malini Awasthi (@maliniawasthi) August 1, 2016

@smritiirani @anandibenpatel @Dev_Fadnavis @RitaG74 @nadiyashah
Bhaglpuri silk..Madhubani painting#IWearHandloom pic.twitter.com/fycwcaxvn3

- Hena Prasun (@Hena19) August 1, 2016

Have always worn it since my college days. #IWearHandloom pic.twitter.com/kdFHu7rLzJ

- Nirupama Rao (@NMenonRao) August 1, 2016

Different ocassion, one fabric - Khadi. #IWearHandloom pic.twitter.com/reNmAl9EBA

- Basant Rai (@rai_basant) August 1, 2016

The campaign is so popular already, even trolls couldn't keep away.
 

. @smritiirani @anandibenpatel @Dev_Fadnavis @ChouhanShivraj @thekiranbedi #IWearHandloom Too ji, Mujhe bhi tag kro pic.twitter.com/meErMRyGSO

- Arvind Kejriwal (@TrollKejri) August 1, 2016

But all kinds of support is welcome, according to this tweet:
 

@TrollKejri your #IWearHandloom look will go a long way in supporting the weaver community in India. pic.twitter.com/UAzxso6sDl

- Ministry of Textiles (@TexMinIndia) August 1, 2016

Have you posted your #IWearHandloom picture yet?