From Dawn to Dream
well, a dreamy saree anyhow “Khadi is very delicate,” says master weaver, Krishnamoorthy. “You have to treat it carefully, like it is an honoured guest.”...
Kanchipuram
Khadi in Kanchi
If you think of khadi silk sarees, particularly those woven in Kanchipuram as these ones have, you cannot escape the Kalakshetra connection. Rukmani Devi Arundale...
The Kalakshetra Connection to Kanchipuram
Everyone talks about Kalakshetra sarees. But here is what you need to know. A Kalakshetra primer in one paragraph if you will.Founded by Rukmini Devi...
Difference between Power LooM and Handloom
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...
Magnet for All Faiths
The second reason why Kanchi was so famous throughout India had to do with its being a magnet for all faiths. There is Buddha Kanchi,...
The Ingredients of a Saree….or a Saree Recipe…..
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...
Sarees for the Gods…and these days, mortals
It begins with a drawing, says Krishnamoorthy, a master weaver in Kanchipuram: first by hand, then on a computer. “A weaver cum designer,” corrects Shivakumar...
Weavers of the Lotus Thread: Kanchipuram weavers and their history
There are four castes involved in weaving in Kanchipuram: the Devangas, Saurashtras, the Sengunthar and the Padma Saalis. Each have a different lineage and interesting...
How to check the authenticity of your Kanchipuram silk saree?
How do you recognize a pure Kanchipuram silk saree?Well, there are a few things you can do. Buy from reliable stores for one thing. Genuine...
The Temples of Kanchipuram
The ground was laid when the Pallavas deemed Kanchi their capital city in the 6th century. Then came the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Hoysalas, the...
