Captivating Kanchipuram weave
Located around 70km from Chennai, Kanchipuram is renowned for two things — ancient temples and spectacular silk. It is often said that when it comes to silk, no other type comes close to the Kanchipuram variety. Handwoven using mulberry silk and
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One of Lucknow’s most well-known art forms is the
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Blissful Banarasi brocade
Among the many things Varanasi is famous for the opulent Banaras brocade sari. This luxurious fabric, with gold and silver zari designed with raised patterns, historically adorned royals around the country. The designs are so intricate that weaving a single sari can take months, making them truly precious. The neighbourhood of Pili Kothi houses one of the few remaining weaving communities in the city.
Ravishing Rajasthani block print
In Rajasthan’s ever-evolving cultural landscape, one craft form has been constant, going back to around the 12th century. This is the technique of block printing. Intricately carved blocks are dipped in dyes and stamped onto cotton fabric to to make saris, dupattas, bedsheets, curtains, and so on. An important centre for block printing is the village of Bagru near Jaipur.
Enchanting Kutch mirror work
Generations of women in the Kutch region of Gujarat, create beautiful and intricate designs using different types of stitches and highly skilled needlework. What makes this style easily recognisable is the use of mirrors or abhla . The women traditionally teach their daughters this skill. Originally appearing in clothes, Kutch work can now be found on bags, wall hangings, cushion covers, purses, and now even in face masks.
Magnificent Madurai sungudi
From the land of the majestic Meenakshi temple and the fragrant jasmine comes a distinctive dotted fabric called the sungudi. The stories behind its inspiration are plenty — that the weavers took inspiration from the starry sky to create the dotted patterns; that they began using the tie-and-dye method after seeing women knot their hair into a bun, and so on. The Madurai Sungudi weavers hail from the Saurashtrian community who migrated from Gujarat in the 17th century.
Priceless Pipli appliqué work
The village of Pipli in Odisha is synonymous with its unique appliqué work, which is a style of sewing fabric on to fabric in different patterns. Initially used to create items associated with the daily rituals of the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, this craft form gradually reached a wider audience. Today this technique finds its place in a wide range of products such as handbags, purses, wall hangings, bed sheets, pillow covers and so on.