Handlooms have always been a special part of Indian fashion. Not just because of their ties with Indian culture, but also because of their quality and uniqueness. This National Handloom Day we take a look at some handloom heroes that have stood the test of time.
Chanderi
The town of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh lent its name to this handwoven silk. Extremely soft and flowy in nature, this fabric is a dream for those who love both, the sheen of silk and lightweight quality of cotton. The fabric is weaved using silk and cotton Zari in cotton yarn. Designers like Archana Jaju, Raw Mango (by Sanjay Garg) and brands like Okhai, Jaypore and many more have favoured the fabric often.
Image Source: Okhai.org
Paithani Silk
One of the finest handwoven silk fabrics, Paithani silk gained its name from the town it was originally made in a Maharashtrian village called Paithan near Aurangabad. Paithani is handwoven using silk along with gold threads and zari.
Designer Archana Jaju, who has used both Chanderi and Paithani in her collections says, “We work with both, Chanderi and Paithani weave. We also have our own units and a team of weavers who weave our beautiful pieces based out of a village in Madhya Pradesh and rural areas of Malegaon, Maharashtra respectively. In fact, coming from a family who takes pride in being one of the initial weavers of Chanderi in India has immensely helped me gain an in-depth knowledge of this craft and come up with designs that are unique and individual.”
Ikat
A lot of India’s Ikat originated from different parts of Odisha. The fabric is made usually in cotton, silk as well as wool. The specialty of ikat- it’s unique blurred print- is a result of its unique production process. The yarns are coloured using the resist dyeing method and the weaver then weaves the fabric meticulously to create the print pattern using the coloured yarns.
Image Source: Instagram/theikatstory
Khadi
The freedom fabric of our nation needs no introduction whatsoever. Recently made popular by celebrities and politically important figures, Khadi has revived itself at the heart of Indian fashion. This wondrous fabric can replace conventionally made cotton quite effortlessly and can be made in numerous different blends. Amritha Ram, designer at House of Khaddar says, “We are looking to transform it into a symbol of ultimate luxury. The fluidity of what the fabric can do led me to experiment with khadi. The resurgence of khadi is going to put this historic fabric on the global map. Most importantly it is going to uplift the lives of the weaver community and help save one of the oldest craft treasures of India.”
Image Source: Instagram/khhouseofkhaddar
Kasavu
A symbol of Kerala’s tradition, Kasavu fabric is a handwoven and hand-spun fabric often made in cotton and used for traditional white and gold zari sarees. Some saris are even adorned with handpainted motifs for an added celebratory detail.
Kanjeevaram Silk
One of the most famous silk fabrics in India, the rich and durable Kanjeevaram silk is often used to make luxurious silk saris that are often passed down generations as a piece of heritage. The making of Kanjeevaram involves the hand weaving of silk yarn, after it is dipped in rice water and sun-dried. Owing to its longevity and classic characteristics, this fabric stays one of the most coveted and loved.
Image used for representational purposes only.
As we find our way back to our traditional handloom weaves, the true heroes remain the weavers that are instrumental in keeping each weave alive. “Rooted in culture and community, we are extremely passionate about our traditional handlooms and the relationships we share with our craftspeople. They are the heart of our label. We believe craft is an embodiment of human creativity and labour, and every day is a learning experience for them. There is mutual reciprocity while working with these craftspeople and they are the ones who help us translate our brand ethos in the truest sense,” says Archana Jaju about the importance of weavers in the Indian fashion ecosystem.