Hand versus machine: the power of the loom Shoba NarayanMar 13, 2019June 27, 20190 In the heart of jamdani country is a powerloom facility. About 30 looms clatter in a large space and produce the equivalent of what Read more
So how do you make a Jamdani saree? Shoba NarayanMar 12, 2019February 1, 20210 The different stages of weaving So here is what happens. Here are the stages of weaving. Cotton gets picked. The Daccai jamdani was made with Read more
How to recreate a 100-year old Jamdani today? Shoba NarayanMar 11, 2019May 20, 20190 Darshan Shah of Weaver’s Studio, Kolkata pulls out what looks to be a white roll. It turns out to be a stunning jamdani weave that Read more
How to make natural dyes? Shoba NarayanMar 11, 2019February 1, 20210 Natural dyed clothes are healthier for the planet and softer on the skin. In fact, there is a case to be made that natural dyes Read more
The weaver’s mother and Spinner’s Son Shoba NarayanFeb 24, 2019March 6, 20190 It was actually an old bicycle wheel, but I was thrilled that it looked like a charka. She was winding a bobbin for weaving as Read more
Where Do Chanderi Motifs Come From? Shoba NarayanFeb 24, 2019March 5, 20190 With more and more women working, plain sarees suitable for office have become popular and certainly such sarees which rely on colour have their charm. Read more
Difference between Power LooM and Handloom Shoba NarayanFeb 15, 2019February 1, 20210 Once the saree design is satisfactory, it gets punched into a series of cards that are used in the jacquard loom (a power loom). Each Read more
The Ingredients of a Saree….or a Saree Recipe….. Shoba NarayanFeb 11, 2019January 28, 20190 Sources The silk comes from Mysore. The zari from Surat. The dye is either natural or more often, chemical. The design comes from tradition. The Read more
Kanchipuram Silk Saree Colours and their Meanings Shoba NarayanFeb 8, 2019February 1, 20210 The colours of Kanchipuram weaves have musical names, all of them in native Tamil. Some of them come from the names of the fruits, flowers, Read more