Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an invasive aquatic plant that entered India in the early 1900s and quickly spread across rivers and wetlands. In Assam and Northeast India, the plant—locally called “Pani Meteka”—became a major ecological challenge. In the 1980s–1990s, craft communities and NGOs initiated experiments to dry, treat, and weave the stems of water hyacinth into functional, eco-friendly products. Over time, artisans refined the techniques to create bags, mats, baskets, footwear, planters, furniture, and home décor items.