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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. It is a lightweight fabric that has a glossy transparency and a sheer texture.

Supposedly, when this unparalleled cloth was first woven, it was colored using the coveted saffron herb. The delicacy of the weave and the ratio of silk to cotton are the factors that decide the worth of the fabric.  

Maheshwari:-

Maheshwari fabric is also a hand-woven cotton and silk blend fabric that originates from the town of Maheshwar in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, India. The history of Maheshwari fabric dates back to the 18th century when it was first woven under the patronage of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar. 

Maheshwari fabric has a fine, crisp feel, making it an ideal choice for summer clothing. It is characterized by its distinctive broad borders, which are often woven in contrasting colors and designs. These borders can be quite intricate. 

How are Chanderi & Maheshwari Fabrics different? 

Chanderi and Maheshwari are both hand-woven fabrics from Madhya Pradesh, India and have a similar texture and sheen due to the use of silk and cotton yarns. However, there are a few key differences between the two fabrics.

The yarn used to weave Chanderi fabric is typically not as thick as the one used in Maheshwari fabric, and as a result, Chanderi fabric is generally lighter and airier than Maheshwari fabric. Additionally, Chanderi fabric is known for its sheer texture.

Maheshwari fabric, on the other hand, is typically heavier and has a denser weave than Chanderi fabric. It is also characterized by its distinctive broader borders, which are often woven in contrasting colors (often golden).

In terms of design, Chanderi fabric is known for its delicate and intricate motifs, which are often inspired by nature and might or might not have a thin border, while Maheshwari fabric is known for its bright colors and bolder designs, which often feature geometric shapes and floral motifs and have distinct broader borders.  Both fabrics are known for their durability and are considered to be some of the finest fabrics in India.  

Generally, Maheshwari fabrics are slightly less expensive than Chanderi fabrics due to the use of a thicker yarn, which reduces the amount of time and effort required to weave the fabric.

In recent years, both Chanderi & Maheshwari fabrics have seen resurgence in popularity, both in India and abroad. Designers have experimented with new colors, patterns, and textures, while still preserving the traditional essence of the fabric. To control the cost the machine-woven variants of the fabrics are also widely manufactured. 

To shop for our Carefully Curated Collection of Chanderi and Maheshwari Suits with Dupattas please visit

 https://www.vassundhara.com/categories/chanderi

 https://www.vassundhara.com/categories/maheshwari

By Puja Malik