Kalamkari sarees on linen, a historic breakthrough, say weavers

‘The shift of Kalamkari in printing arena, from pure cotton to linen fabric, will help the art to reach customers beyond the borders’. Recognised by the Global Organic Textiles Standards and Skal International, inspection agencies for organic food products abroad, the SAC has been credited in introduction of organic cotton fabric in Kalamkari industry.

October 01, 2014 12:54 am | Updated November 17, 2021 12:03 pm IST - PEDANA (KRISHNA DISTRICT):

Artisans display Linen-Kalamkari saree at Pedana in Krishna district.

Artisans display Linen-Kalamkari saree at Pedana in Krishna district.

Artisans of Syamala Arts and Crafts (SAC) came up with linen-Kalamkari sarees following their breakthrough experiment done on linen fabric a month ago, scripting a historic achievement in the art form.

The colours used for the two sarees in Paisley and floral designs were extracted from pomegranate, myrabalam flower (halda flower) and indigo. The same colours have also been used for production of eight linen fabric bed sheets.

All these products were a mix of colours those were extracted from different natural materials. In August, Jayashree Textiles (JST) of Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited, Kolkata, in collaboration with Weavers’ Service Centre (WSC), Vijayawada, has tied up with Pedana-based SAC for promotion of Kalamkari on linen fabric. The two sarees are meant to supply to the JST while bed sheets would be kept in WSC.

“The revolutionary shift of Kalamkari in printing arena, from pure cotton to linen fabric, will help the art to reach customers beyond the borders,” opined SAC artisans Pitchuka Srinivas and P.B.L. Nagendra Rao. “The designs with natural colours on linen fabric have greatly enhanced the beauty of sarees and made them appealing to the spectators. The shining feature of the linen has brought additional beauty for the designs,” said Mr. Nagendra Rao.

“Two key stages of our experiment on linen fabric proved viable for starting production of Kalamkari on linen. Measures are also being taken up for weaving of linen fabric in Pedana town soon,” Mr. Srinivas told The Hindu .

Recognised by the Global Organic Textiles Standards and Skal International, inspection agencies for organic food products abroad, the SAC has been credited in introduction of organic cotton fabric in Kalamkari industry.

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