Handloom Products

Handloom

There are basically three different kinds of looms that weavers use manually. They are the pit looms, stand loom and frame loom. Yarn is the ‘thread’ that is used to make the cloth or fabric. The dyeing of the yarn is an important activity before actual weaving or looming. The texture of the hand woven fabric varies from that of a mill or machine made fabric.

A handloom is the loom that the weavers use without any electricity. The fabric that is woven on handlooms using hand spun yarn is called khadi. On the other hand, the yarn that is spun in mills and woven on handloom is called handloom fabrics.

Some facts
The handloom industry is the second largest employment sector after agriculture in rural India. It has more than 4.3 million people involved either directly or indirectly.
There are about 2.4 million looms of different kinds that power the industry.
Almost 15% of cloth production in the country comes from the handloom industry.
Hand woven cloths or fabrics from India account for 95% of the world’s production of hand woven fabric.
Different handlooms of India across the different states.
1) Kanjeevaram Silk, Madurai Sungudi, Chettinad and Arani Silk - Tamilnadu.

Originating in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu the Kanjeevaram silk is one of the most popular handloom products. The sarees can sometimes take up to 6 months to be made and are usually worn on special occasions, such as wedding. These sarees can also be used as upholstery for a grand and royal look.

The dotted pattern that resulted looked like stars scattered across the night sky. Hence a few believe that the sungudi designs were inspired by celestial constellations that led to the creation of those circular motifs. The classic elegance of the dotted designs and restrained beauty of surface ornamentation created by the sungudi craft is revealed as each knot is untied. It combines an ancient technique with contemporary designs and styles. These sarees were worn by queens in the pre-colonial period and were honoured in the kingdoms of Tamil Nadu. Its ancient royal lineage has been translated into fashionable and elegant designs for today’s youth and socialites. The art is passed down over the generations.

Chettinad cotton sarees are woven out of 100% pure cotton fabrics. The handloom industry in Tamil Nadu is promoting and encouraging weavers of Chettinad who specialise in weaving handloom cotton and silk cotton Chettinad sarees. These cotton sarees of Chettinad have become more popular because colour never fades. The colour remains the same even after many washes because of the unique threading length and quality adopted by the weavers.

The handlooms of Arani are famous for their softness and durability. The fabric is soft and comfortable to wear and is suitable for all Indian climates. The looms used here are mostly frame looms that are fixed in a frame with the pedal at floor level. The weaver sits on a low stool and uses both hands and legs to weave.The weavers in this profession are torch bearers of the ancient trade. They proudly proclaim that none of them is formally trained in this art but have gathered their unique skills from their ancestors through the method of vision and practice.

2) Ikat – Odisha

Though the Ikat art is woven across the country, it is most concentrated in Odisha. It is usually the members of the Bhulia and Meher community who for generations have mastered this weaving art. The culture of the land is often depicted in the patterns and designs

3) Kalamkari – Andhra Pradesh

One of the oldest weaving arts, the Kalamkari fabrics flourished the most during the Mughal era. Today the fabric is well known for its block and hand painted designs.

Made by hand printing various designs, motifs, and tales, these sarees are highly regarded in the textile industry. The word Kalamkari comprises of ‘Kalam’ meaning pen and ‘kari’ meaning craftsmanship. The saree is made by handloom and a tamarind pen is used to draw lovely designs on it. The Kalamkari sarees are considered a symbol of elegance and style.

4) Banarasi Brocade Work – Uttar Pradesh

Banarasi sarees are very popular products woven by the handloom weavers in Varanasi. The weavers weave silver and gold into the fabric creating a piece of magical proportions. The banarasi saree still remains one of the most sought after wardrobe treasures.

5) Bandhani and Patan Patola – Gujarat

Bandhani uses the method of ‘tie and dye’ and is practiced in both Rajasthan and Gujarat. With circular and square motifs the bandhani fabrics exude bright colors.

The patan patola, on the other hand, is made from silk. Originating in the town of Patan in Gujarat the weavers work for months before the final product is creating. This method also involves both dying and weaving techniques.

6) Bhagalpuri Silk – Bihar
Bhagalpur is known for producing one of the finest silk of the country. The fabric is made from the tussar cocoons and is most famous in the form of Bhagalpuri sarees.

7) Paithani – Maharashtra

the beauty of Paithani is unparalleled. It derived its name from a town in Aurangabad known as Paithan and was the garment worn by the royal women of the Maratha empire. This beautiful handwoven saree is made of silk and is identified by its distinctive border and the design of a peacock on its pallu. These sarees are also donned by brides on their wedding day and form an integral part of Maharashtra’s cultural heritage.

8) Kunbi – Goa
Kunbi is the traditional saree of the Goan people. It was present from even before the arrival of the Portuguese and was exclusively worn by the indigenous people of Goa. This handwoven saree has a bright red color as its base which is improved by a checkered pattern on it. The weaving is sturdy because the saree is worn by women doing hard agricultural work and chores. The Kunbi saree is the epitome of simplicity and grace at its best!

9) Muga Silk – Assam
Muga Silk is a gorgeous fabric made and worn in Assam. The saree, much like the Kunbi, is highly durable and was donned by the womenfolk of the royal Ahom dynasty. The Muga saree is one of the most expensive sarees in the world due to its glossy finish. It takes 10 or more long days to produce the saree.

10)Kullu Shawls – Himachal Pradesh
The popularity of Kullu Shawls has drastically increased over the last couple of years. One of the best things in Himachal Pradesh, Kullu shawls have a huge fan following amongst tourists across the world. This gorgeous fabric has elegant geometrical figures all over it and can be worn by both men and women. Apart from having an attractive appeal, these shawls also provide insulation against the low temperatures of Himachal Pradesh.

11)Mysore Silk – Karnataka
Apart from its exquisite cuisine and monuments, the Mysore silk is what makes Karnataka so special. The silk is extremely soft and is made from zari and pure silk.

12) Chanderi – Madhya Pradesh

Chanderi – Madhya Pradesh
Chanderi is a lightweight, luxurious saree that gained its name from a small town in Madhya Pradesh with the same name. The saree is woven together and has golden zari and silk in the mix. Chanderi sarees are predominantly worn during the summers because of their lightweight property.

Some of the other handloom arts include, pachachuli weaving from Uttarakhand, Pashmina shawls from Jammu and Kashmir, pachra from Tripura, Lepcha from Sikkim, panja durries from Haryana, kosa silk weaving from Chhatisgarh, chikankari, zardozi, gota and many...

These handlooms can be used as upholstery material, bedsheets and bedspreads, garments, shawls,scarfs, tapestry etc