WHAT ARE KANCHIPURAM SAREES?
Borrowing its name from the village of its origin, Kanchipuram is essentially a silk saree that can well be considered South India’s answer to the more popular Banarasi saree.
We are completely drooling over the nine yards of magic and so we are back with one more, the Kanchipuram aka Kanjivaram sarees.
The silk industry in Kanchipuram is one of the fastest-growing industries in India. The industry currently employs more than 30,000 weavers in the art of saree making.
The story of the Kanjeevaram silk saree begins in Hindu mythology. The famous Kanjeevaram saree weave goes back 400 years. Legend has it that the Kanchi silk weavers are descendants of Sage Markanda, who was considered to be the master weaver for the Gods themselves.
Two major weaving communities of Andhra Pradesh, the Devangas and Saligars migrated to the town of Kanchipuram. They used their excellent weaving skills to make the silk saree that bore images of scriptures and figurines found on the temples around the village.
The warp frame use to weave this fabric has about 60 holes, in which there are 240 threads in the warp and 250 to 3000 threads in the weft, giving it a sturdy feel.
It is also quite a common practice to weave the border of the saree separately and then join the three together. The joining of the three known as korvai, is done with such precision that even if the saree tears, the border will not detach.
Also since the zari is made of three silk threads twisted with silver wire, the fabric is extremely strong and durable. This, however, can also add to the weight, making a regular Kanjeevaram saree as heavy as two kilos.
The border of the saree comprises of motifs from the temples, palaces and general paintings, and the body includes pyramidal temple designs, checks, stripes, and floral buttas.
Over the years, the traditional and much-preferred stripes or golden dot designs have given way to more symbolic motifs such as fruits, animals, birds, the sun and the moon, The rich woven pallu showcased paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Kanchipuram sarees vary widely in cost depending upon the intricacy of work, colors, pattern, the material used like zari (gold thread), etc. The silk is also known for its quality and craftsmanship, which has helped earn its name.
To cut down on the cost you also get budgeted versions like the pure silk plus imitation zari or the half silk-half synthetic plus imitation zari saree, which manage to hold on to the sheen of the original but lose out on the durability of the fabric. These sarees cost a lot less and can be bought at a price of just Rs.2,000 to Rs.5,000. However, these are not considered to be originals.
Owing to the thick fabric and deep colours mixed with hints of gold, this saree is preferred for festive occasions and celebrations, especially for bridal attires. Like with most silk sarees, you can count on Kanjeevaram or Kanchipuram silk sarees to be the perfect outfit choice when you are looking for a classy ethnic option.
That’s all folks
Stay tuned for more.
We are completely drooling over the nine yards of magic and so we are back with one more, the Kanchipuram aka Kanjivaram sarees.
The silk industry in Kanchipuram is one of the fastest-growing industries in India. The industry currently employs more than 30,000 weavers in the art of saree making.
The story of the Kanjeevaram silk saree begins in Hindu mythology. The famous Kanjeevaram saree weave goes back 400 years. Legend has it that the Kanchi silk weavers are descendants of Sage Markanda, who was considered to be the master weaver for the Gods themselves.
Two major weaving communities of Andhra Pradesh, the Devangas and Saligars migrated to the town of Kanchipuram. They used their excellent weaving skills to make the silk saree that bore images of scriptures and figurines found on the temples around the village.
Weaving process
Kanchipuram silk sarees are woven from pure mulberry silk. While the silk belongs to South India, the pure gold and silver zari comes from Gujarat. The silk thread that is used to weave the saree is dipped in rice water and sun-dried before it is used in order to increase both, its thickness and stiffness. The silk thread is then interlocked with a thin silver wire and woven through after which a golden thread is used to complete the procedure.The warp frame use to weave this fabric has about 60 holes, in which there are 240 threads in the warp and 250 to 3000 threads in the weft, giving it a sturdy feel.
Special Features of a Kanchipuram saree
The colour and designs of the body and the pallu are quite different, weavers weave both of them separately and eventually join them. You can spot a zig-zag pattern known as the pitni, where the body meets the pallu.It is also quite a common practice to weave the border of the saree separately and then join the three together. The joining of the three known as korvai, is done with such precision that even if the saree tears, the border will not detach.
Also since the zari is made of three silk threads twisted with silver wire, the fabric is extremely strong and durable. This, however, can also add to the weight, making a regular Kanjeevaram saree as heavy as two kilos.
Motifs in a Kanchipuram Saree
Kanchipuram silk sarees have stayed true to the inclusion of temple figurines and mythological stories into the design.The border of the saree comprises of motifs from the temples, palaces and general paintings, and the body includes pyramidal temple designs, checks, stripes, and floral buttas.
Kanchipuram sarees vary widely in cost depending upon the intricacy of work, colors, pattern, the material used like zari (gold thread), etc. The silk is also known for its quality and craftsmanship, which has helped earn its name.
Colours of a Kanchipuram saree
The sarees are known for their vibrant colours and eye-catching designs, which are mainly inspired by the scriptures and figurines from the very many temples in this small village. Since the pallu and the body of the saree differ in colour and design, you can expect a variety of contrasting shades too.The price range of a Kanchipuram saree
An original saree with pure silk and pure zari can cost anywhere between Rs. 7000 and Rs.2,00,000.To cut down on the cost you also get budgeted versions like the pure silk plus imitation zari or the half silk-half synthetic plus imitation zari saree, which manage to hold on to the sheen of the original but lose out on the durability of the fabric. These sarees cost a lot less and can be bought at a price of just Rs.2,000 to Rs.5,000. However, these are not considered to be originals.
Care guide for your saree
Dry cleaning is the most preferred method to maintain the saree. However, if you do have to wash the saree at home avoid using soap during the first three washes. A rinse in cold water is more than enough. It is advisable to store the saree separately in a plastic or saree bag.Owing to the thick fabric and deep colours mixed with hints of gold, this saree is preferred for festive occasions and celebrations, especially for bridal attires. Like with most silk sarees, you can count on Kanjeevaram or Kanchipuram silk sarees to be the perfect outfit choice when you are looking for a classy ethnic option.
That’s all folks
Stay tuned for more.
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