Blogs by Sundari Silks
The Veshti - A classic ensemble for men
The costume is a cultural mirror which portrays the time, aesthetic sense and social environment of a civilization. The garments we wore went through a long process of evolution. From being an article of mere protective clothing, it became an adornment. One such men’s garment which offers a glimpse of the...
The Legacy of Kalamkari
The pictorial painting on cotton from the coromandel coast is one of the most exquisite arts of India. Kalamkari is an ancient Indian textile tradition in which designs are fully hand-drawn or block printed using vegetable dyes. The early origins of this art form were portrayed in the form of religious...
Weaves of Gadwal
Handloom weaving is a living craft and is still practised by millions of craftspeople who are a part of the mainstream economy. The power of the skilled craftspeople is inherent in every hand-crafted and hand-woven beauty one gets to witness. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana provide one of the richest handcrafted textile...
Chikankari - The Floral Embroidery Of Lucknow
"Any cotton-embroidered article that comes from Lucknow" might be the most satisfactory definition of Chikan today. Historians say that the word Chikan was derived from the Persian word “chikin” or “chikeen” which means any kind of embroidered fabric. The origins of this needlework remain shrouded in the mists of time. The...
Occasion Wear - Sarees For Every Festivity
As we enter a new decade, we see stronger, surer and more empowered women who are fashion conscious. Her life is busy, involved, has many cultural facets, and she wants garments that are embedded in evoking a memory iconic to India. The Occasion Wear launch comes in response to customer...
The Tales of Tussar
Tussar silk never goes out of style, when you want to keep it classic and casual. The unbleached, dull gold shine is a perfect base for printing, painting or embellishing the saris.Tussar silk fibre is made of the protein secreted by the silkworm; its natural sheen, lightweight and affinity for...
The Needle Craft of Banjaras
Clothing is a language through which people can tell stories about themselves, their community, and their place in the world. History, myths, cultural patterns are transformed in women's hands to create the costume that identifies their tribe. A Banjara woman in her traditional costume, in the picture above. Her costume...
Jamdani
One of the lightest and finest hand spun, handwoven cotton fabrics is Muslin. And the supplementary weft-work woven into this finest fabric is called as Jamdani. Jamdani is a traditional craft linked to the state of West Bengal and also present-day Bangladesh. The Jamdanis made in West Bengal resemble the traditional...
What is a korvai?
The word Korvai in Tamil applies to structured patterns used in music, dance and textiles. In music and dance, it’s about presenting lyrics in rhythmic syllables. In textiles, Korvai is a technique which connects the concepts of contrast and colour between the border and body of a sari. The hallmark of...
The Alluring Ajrakh – A Remarkable Journey
Ajrakh printing is a skilled craftsmanship practised in Gujarat. The traditional hand printing method dates back to 4500 years ago, and the excavations of the Indus valley and the textile fragments found in Fustat, stand testimony to this.The name Ajrakh is derived from the Arabic word ‘Azrak’ which means blue....
Shikargah & Vanasingaram - Woven wonders
The brocades of Banaras are well known for its richly patterned fabrics characterized by the use of gold or silver thread. The highly ornamental silk brocades with gold or silver work in Benares were referred to as Kimkhwab. During the Mughal period (1556-107 CE), the kimkhwabs became popular in Mughal...
