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Kalamkari
Kalamkari Kalamkari, an ancient art form, is celebrated for its beautiful hand-paintings on fabrics. Kalam means pen and Kari means craftsmanship, the name Kalamkari has a Persian origin. This art form is practiced in Srikalahasthi town of Chittoor District and Masulipattinam, an ancient port town of District Krishna in Andhra Pradesh.There two varieties of Kalamkari Free Hand Drawing and Block Printing. The artisans in Masulipattinam, use the block print form, while the artisans from SriKalahasthi are known for their free hand drawing using the pen. The drawings are usually inspired by Hindu Mythology. Expert Artisans re-create elaborate Scenes from The Ramayana or The Mahabharata. In recent times new designs are being created depicting Budhha and other figures inspired by nature namely flowers, leaves, fishes, small animals etc. Earthy organic muted colors are used. To buy Pen Kalamkari Dupattas from Carefully Curated Collection by Vassundhara, please visit https://www.vassundhara.com/categories/dupatta By Puja Malik
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Role of Women in Handloom Sector
Women in Handloom Sector! Women make up for 72.29% of work force in Handloom Sector. They play a pivotal role at every stage from Spinning, Weaving, Dyeing to Designing, Marketing and Selling. They are vital in preserving various traditional art forms. On this Women's Day let's celebrate tireless work of these women and appreciate their contribution by Buying Handloom Products!
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Famous Fabrics of Madhya Pradesh- Chanderi & Maheshwari
Famous Fabrics of Madhya Pradesh - Chanderi & Maheshwari! Madhya Pradesh, a state in Central India is renowned for its exquisite and intricate textiles. Tribal communities make up 20% of the total population of the State, rendering a unique culture, tradition and ethnicity to it. Known as the ‘Heart of India’, Madhya Pradesh accounts for 43% of India’s and 24% of the world’s organic cotton production. It is historically known for being one of the best cotton and silk producers and is a major exporter of cotton textiles. Madhya Pradesh’s woven wonders namely Chanderi and Maheshwari are some of the most sought-after fabrics amongst the Handloom Connoisseurs and have unique weaving specialties. They are characterized by their vibrant colors, intricate designs. Chanderi:- The celebrated Chanderi fabric is a hand-woven combination of silk and cotton. The town of Chanderi, where the craft originated, is home to master weavers who practice the age-old tradition of creating the cloth on handlooms. Chanderi fabrics are woven in pleasant colors, with subtle gold borders and have traditional bootis or motifs....
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Six Famous types of Hand Block Printing!
Hand Block: An Ancient yet Timeless Tradition! The Hand Block Printing process involves engraving an intricate design on a wooden block, inking the design with fabric colors or with a resistant paste, and then using the block as a stamp on the fabric. Each pattern is stamped individually. The process is repeated to cover the entire fabric. The resulting design is a mirror image of the carving on the block. Hand Block Printing is a labor-intensive, time-consuming and highly skilled craft that requires precision and attention to detail....
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Kantha: Tradition with a Twist!
Kantha: Tradition with a Twist! Kantha is a traditional form of Hand Embroidery that Originated in the Bengal region of India, as a result of the frugal nature of women. The word ‘Kantha’ in Sanskrit means ‘rags’ or ‘patched cloth’. Traditionally, it was made by women who stitched several layers of old saris stacked together, using simple running stitches, to form intricate motifs and create exquisite colorful quilts or bed covers. Though a functional craft, it was used to make products to celebrate life's important events, hopes and aspirations. Upcycling of fabric was the key element of the craft that gave it a distinctive character and texture. This makes Kantha an environment friendly and sustainable craft in the true sense. Kantha embroidery is typically done on cotton or silk fabrics and consists of running stitches in a variety of patterns and colors. The traditional designs include flowers, birds, animals, paisley, scenes inspired by mythology or rural life and geometric shapes. Over the years skilled artisans have seamlessly combined the ancient craft with brand-new clothes and modern silhouettes. Kantha has evolved into a versatile craft that is used to beautify a variety of products including ethnic Suits, Dupattas, Sarees, Stoles, Bags, Other Accessories and Home Furnishings. It is a great way to add a unique, handmade touch to any item in your wardrobe or at home. Kantha is the best illustration of how uncomplicated, simple embroidery can breathe new life and magnificence into plain Dress Materials, Dupattas, Jackets, Sarees or other items. Kantha embroidery is conventionally done by women, who use their creativity and imagination to craft stunning pieces and express their individuality through them....
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Shibori- Unravelling the knots!
Shibori - Unravelling the knots! Shibori is an ancient hand-made, resist dyeing craft that uses the precise technique of binding, compressing, clamping, pleating, twisting, stitching or folding fabric by using threads to form desired contrasting patterns. The threads resist the dye from penetrating the fabric. Each way of tying the fabric results in very distinctive and diverse patterns. The method selected depends on the desired effect to be achieved and the inherent qualities of the fabric. At times combination of methods is used to get exclusive & elaborate designs. Shibori is a time-consuming and labor-intensive textile craft. The origin of Shibori can be traced back to 8th century Japan. The Japanese Traders brought the craft to India in the 17th Century....
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Dhakai Jamdani-The Majestic Weave of the Royals!
Dhakai Jamdani: The Majestic Weave of the Royals! During the Mughal Era, intricate motifs were added to the plain muslin fabric, hand woven with the finest quality of cotton yarn, with almost 2000 years old weaving technique of Bengal. This ornately patterned fusion fabric “Jamdani” was originally named “Dhakai” after the City of Dhaka as it was traditionally woven around Dakha (in undivided India), an ancient textiles weaving center in Bengal Region. The luxurious Dhakai Jamdani fabric was used extensively in Mughal Court dresses. Jamdani, a Persian term persisted, since Persian was the official language used in the Mughal Courts. The state of West Bengal shares the same weaving heritage and Jamdani is woven on Hand Looms with hand-spun yarns in the state’s South Eastern weaving centers. What is Jamdani Weave? The Jamdani weave is a discontinuous, supplementary weft weaving technique where the standard weft creates a fine, sheer fabric while the weaver incorporates supplementary weft with thicker threads often golden in colour to add intricate motifs in the otherwise subtle fabric. Each motif is created separately with hands by interlacing the weft threads into the warp with fine bamboo sticks using individual spools of thread. The result is a complex mix of diverse mesmerizing patterns that appear to float on the surface of sheer Jamdani fabric. The pattern is not sketched or outlined on the fabric but is drawn on graph paper and placed underneath the warp....
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Modal Silk Fabric
Modal Silk- A Luxurious Fabric with Life! If there is one Fabric that combines the Comfort of Cotton, the Class & Elegance of Silk and also Drapes well, it is Modal Silk! Lightweight, Soft and Smooth, Modal Silk fabric has a luxurious feel. Sounds like a dream? Well, there is more to this exquisite fabric, it is resistant to wrinkles and is breathable, making it a perfect choice for Indian or Indo Western Outfits that are soothing and trendy at the same time, in addition to looking fresher for longer. Modal Silk is created from plant-based cellulose fiber made from beech tree extract and is spun manually. The fabric is perfect for Everyday use or Festive Clothing. It’s perfect for Indian Ethnic Wear with Dupatta, Kurti for women & men, Kaftan, One Piece Dresses and Cord-Sets. Invented in Japan in 1950s, this fabulous fabric can be worn for a variety of reasons and in every season. Do you still need more raison d'être to embrace this Incredible Fabric? Please read On:- Durable: Modal Silk fabric is known for its durability....
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Bhujodi-A time-defying Craft!
Bhujodi Weave-A time-defying craft! Bhujodi is a unique weave, hand woven with an extra weft technique. It is an almost 500 years old sustainable craft that gets its name from a small village located 8 kilo-meters South-East of Bhuj at Kutch (a major center for handloom textiles and an astonishing variety of artisanal crafts) in Gujrat. Bhujodi village is the biggest and oldest artisans’ village in the district and is home to approximately 200 skilled Vankars (Weavers) who have been practicing the craft for generations. The village is famous for its exquisitely woven traditional handloom fabrics & recently for Vande Matram Memorial. It attracts a lot of domestic and international tourists. The Vankars at Bhujodi lives and breathe the craft. They deftly weave the delicate yarns together with the Heritage of their Ancestors, Centuries-Old Traditions and Current Life Stories intertwining them with the Warp and Weft to create these incredible environment-friendly fabrics, with their dexterous hands. The Vankars are believed to have been the descendants of the Meghwal (Marwada) clan who migrated from Rajasthan to Bhujodi five centuries ago. There are many awards and accolades to their credit. HistoryCenturies ago the nomadic tribes (the original customers of Bhujodi) of the area needed warm clothes to protect themselves from the harsh cold in winters. Vankars of the region swiftly rose up to the occasion....
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Ajrakh
Ajrakh (Ajrak) is a unique form of detailed Block Printing done on various kinds of cloths like Cotton, Modal and Silk with resistant-dye technique, mostly at Dhamadka and Ajrukhpur, small villages in Bhuj, Kutch (Gujarat) and Barmer (Rajasthan). Ajrakh is probably one of the oldest continuous forms of printing, indigenous to the sub-continent of India – tracing its origins back to Indus Valley Civilisation more than 4000 years ago. Traditionally Ajrak is done in bi-chrome shades of deep crimson and indigo, bearing symmetrical patterns with interspersed unprinted white motifs. Ajrak fabric prints are recognized for complex mathematical and flower designs. The term “Ajrak”, may be derived from “Azrak”, meaning blue in Arabic, as blue happens to be the tone of the key colors in Ajrak printing. Ajrak Craft products are made with natural vegetable and mineral dyes. Unlike other processes of printing on cloth, where the color is applied directly to the cloth, in Ajrak block printing, the fabric is first printed with a resist paste and then dyed. The technique of resist printing allows exclusive absorption of a dye in the desired areas only and prevents absorption on the areas intended to be left uncolored. Ajrak printing is comparatively a long process including many phases of printing and washing the fabric over and over again with various natural dyes and mordents. The raw fabric is pulled exhaustively through the water many times over, scoured, beaten, steamed, mordanted, printed with resist mud pastes, covered with powdered camel dung & ground rice husks and dyed in deep madder and indigo. The entire process can take up to two weeks resulting in the creation of the beautiful eye-catching patterns of the Ajrak. Authentic Ajrak printing is done by hand with hand-carved wooden blocks....
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Ikat: The Woven Wonder!
Ikat: The Woven Wonder! You cannot talk about handloom clothes without mentioning Ikat. Fabric woven in this elegant and intricate weave is not just a fabric but a piece of art. Intricately woven Ikat clothes reflect the wearers’ finer taste and stature. Their impeccable designs also represent the hard work, dedication and patience of the expert weavers. What is Ikat? Ikat is an age-old resist dyeing technique used to create a distinct style of textile patterns....
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