Weavers and their Ecosystem Shoba NarayanFeb 8, 2019March 5, 20190 Most of us associate the saree with just the weaving process. The loom in other words. Not so. The loom is but the last step 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
Caring for your Kanchipuram Silk Saree Shoba NarayanFeb 4, 2019March 5, 20190 Don’t stack them up using the same ironed folds, because those are the folds from which they will tear. Instead roll-up your sarees and rotate Read more
Why is the Kanchipuram Weave Special? Shoba NarayanFeb 4, 2019March 5, 20190 India is a land of a thousand weaves: native to land, specific to region, linked to caste and community, and patronized by its local people Read more
Dyeing Kanchipuram Silk Yarn Shoba NarayanFeb 4, 2019March 5, 20190 Dyeing yarn is done by another group. Srinivasan, a young “distributor” of silk sarees says that in the old days, the weaver did everything, from Read more
People of Kanchi Shoba NarayanFeb 4, 2019March 5, 20190 “You young women are so stupid,” said the old crone. She sat under a tree in the outskirts of Kanchi. Frogs frolicked around a nearby Read more
Doyennes of Textiles: Sabita Radhakrishna Shoba NarayanJan 28, 2019March 1, 20190 Sabita Radhakrishna is a doyenne of textiles. Her passion is South Indian weaves, specifically Kanchipuram. She is a woman of many avatars: founder of Amrapali, Read more
What is a Kanchipuram Saree? Shoba NarayanJan 28, 2019March 5, 20190 Kanchipuram sarees are defined (or differentiated) by a few things. The first is the weight. In the olden days, they were made of “murukku pattu” Read more
History of Kanchipuram Silk Shoba NarayanJan 28, 2019March 5, 20190 Kanchi is linked to the svadhishtana chakra behind the genitals because its presiding deity, Goddess Kamakshi is the goddess of love. Read more