Pochampalli

Pochampally Saree or Pochampalli Ikat is a saree made in Bhoodan Pochampally, Nalgonda district, India. They are popular for their traditional geometric patterns in Ikat style of dyeing.The intricate geometric design find their way into the hands of skillful weavers and make it to the market as beautiful sarees and dress material.

Pochampally Ikat uniqueness lies in the transfer of intricate design and colouring onto warp and weft threads first and then weave them together. The fabric is cotton, silk and sico - a mix of exquisite silk and cotton. Increasingly, the colours themselves are from natural sources and their blends.

Pochampally, a cluster of 80 villages, has traditional looms, whose design is more than a century-old. Today this Silk City, which is more of a cottage industry, is home to more than 10000 weaving families in 100 villages. The fabric is marketed through the cooperative society and APCO, the master weavers and the business houses in Pochampally.

Khadi Streetwear In India, Khadi is not just a cloth, it is a whole movement started byMohandas Karamchand Gandhi.The Khadi movement promoted an ideology, an idea that Indians could be self-reliant on cotton and be free from the high priced goods and clothes which the British were selling to them. The British would buy cotton from India at cheap prices and export them to Britain where they were woven to make clothes. These clothes were then brought back to India to be sold at hefty prices. The #Khadi movement aimed at boycotting foreign goods including cotton and promoting Indian goods, thereby improving India's economy. Mahatma Gandhi began promoting the spinning of khd for rural self-employment and self-reliance (instead of using cloth manufactured industrially in Britain) in 1920s India thus making khadi an integral part and icon of theSwadeshi movement. Thefreedom strugglerevolved around the use of khd fabrics and the dumping of foreign-made clothes. When some people complained about the costliness of khadi to Mahatma Gandhi, he started wearing onlydhoti.KhadiorKhaddar a term for handspun and hand-wovencloth fromIndia,BangladeshandPakistanprimarily made out ofcotton.It is widely accepted in fashion circles.

Kalamkari

Qalamkariis a type of hand-painted or block-printedcottontextile, produced in parts ofIndiaand inIran. The word is derived from thePersianwordsghalam(pen) andkari(craftmanship), meaning drawing with a pen (Ghalamkar).TheMachilipatnam Kalamkaricraft made atPedananear by Machilipatnam inKrishna district,Andhra Pradesh, evolved with patronage of theMughalsand theGolconda sultanate.There are two distinctive styles of kalamkari art in India - one, theSrikalahastistyleand the other, theMachilipatnamstyleof art. The Srikalahasti style of Kalamkari, wherein the "kalam" or pen is used for free hand drawing of the subject and filling in the colours, is entirely hand worked. This style flowered around temples and their patronage and so had an almost religious identity - scrolls, temple hangings,chariotbanners and the like, depicted deities and scenes taken from the great Hindu epicsRamayana.Mahabarata,Puranasand the mythological classics.

Golabama The concept of Golabama came into existence when two artisans Ramdas & Konka sayulu, took the inspiration from beautiful women carrying milk in a pot on her head on the streets of SIDDIPET. They then gave the design of this picture to the weavers who then converted them on the saris. As their sari became popular, it came to be known as a Golabama sari. This took place during the 1940s. In 1980s ABCO revived the art of weaving of Golabama saris. The weavers are extremely talented at their work. However it is hard to make ends meet. Weavers lack credit, with little or no access to the market. In 2010, due to their poor economic state, 200 weavers committed suicide. The shifting of a generation of weavers to various other sectors is leading to the death of an age old craft. The Golabama sari with its unique motif presents a dignified and authentic appeal to the wearer. The sari is found in lightweight cotton & in silk in a wide range of colors and is priced at very affordable rates. In our busy city lives we fail to realize the struggle and sweat thats put into the production process of these saris. Any form of help to the craft may come as a blessing to more weavers than we can imagine.

Kutch Lehenga Kutch work embroidery is one of the most easily identifiable styles of embroidery from Gujarat and a well patronised handicraft textile in India. Deriving its name from its places of origin, the Kutch and Saurashtra regions of Gujarat, Kutch embroidery is characterised by the use of vibrant colors, mirrors, beads and intricately extensive needlework that embellishes the entire fabric on which it is based.Usually done on cotton or silk fabric, Kutch work embroidery involves the use of silk or woollen thread in fine stitches to create elaborate patterns, and draws its inspiration from romantic, architectural and human motifs, as well as Persian and Mughal arts. The colors used are mainly green, indigo, deep red, black, yellow and ivory. The embroidery is also distinctive in its use of mirrors and beads, placed strategically in between patterns. A popular and recognised example of Kutch embroidery is the ghagra choli (a traditional skirt and blouse ensemble) of Gujarat, especially worn duringthe Navaratri season.

Khadi Waistcoat Khadi is a versatile fabric, cool in summers and warm in winters. Being a cruder form of material, it crumples much faster than other preparations of cotton. In order to improve the look, Khadi is often starched to have a stiffer shape. It is widely accepted in fashion circles these days.Mahatma Gandhi began promoting the spinning of Khadi for rural self-employment in 1920s in India. He also wanted to spread the message of not using foreign clothes. The freedom struggle revolved around the use of Khadi fabrics and the dumping of foreign-made clothes. Thus it symbolized the political ideas and independence itself, and to this day most politicians in India are seen only in Khadi clothing. The flag of India is technically only allowed to be made from this material.For a trendy look, try wearing a khadi silk waistcoat over a silk shirt and a pair of well-fitting jeans. Accessorise it with a nice printed scarf or cravat. Woolen khadi jackets can be sported in winters over shirts or tees.

ChikankariChikan is a traditionalembroiderystyle fromLucknow. Literally translated, the word means embroidery. Believed to have been introduced byNur Jehan,MughalemperorJahangir's wife,[1]it is one of Lucknow's most famous textile decoration styles.. It developed quickly during the period when theMughalsruled and consisted of styles inspired by Persians.Lucknowgrew into an international market for its renowned Chikankari work. There are references to Indian Chikan work as early as 3rd century BC byMegasthenes, who mentioned the use of floweredmuslinsby Indians. There is also a tale that mentions how a traveler taught Chikankari to a peasant in return of water to drink. However, the Noor Jahan story is the most popular of the lot.[2]The name Chikan has been derived from thePersianword Chakin or Chikeen meaning a cloth wrought with needlework.Chikan began as a type of white-on-white (or whitework) embroidery.Chikankari is a delicate and artfully done hand embroidery on a variety of textile fabric like muslin, silk, chiffon, organza, net etc. White thread is embroidered on cool, pastel shades of light muslin and cotton garments. Nowadayschikanembroidery is also done with coloured and silk threads in different colours to meet the recent fashion trends and keep chikankari up-to-date. Lucknow is the heart of theChikankariindustry today and the variety is known asLucknawi chikan.Chikankari or Chikan work in the recent times has also adapted additional embellishments like Mukaish, Kamdani, Badla, Kamdani, Sequin, bead and mirror work, which gives it a rich look. Chikan embroidery is mostly done on fabrics like, Cotton, Semi Georgette, Pure Georgette, Crepe, Chiffon, Silk and any other fabric which is light and which highlights the embroidery. Also, it should be taken care of that the fabric is not too thick or hard, else the embroidery needle won't pierce it.The piece begins with the use of one or more pattern blocks that are used to block-print a pattern on the ground fabric. The embroiderer then stitches the pattern, and the finished piece is carefully washed to remove all traces of the printed pattern.

Kutch Anarkali History traces the origin of Kutch work embroidery back to mochis, the community of shoemakers, who used to work on royal textiles and decorative objects. It is also believed that this unique style of embroidery was brought about by Kathicattlebreeders, a group of wanderers associated withKarnaof theMahabharat, who eventually settled down to produce the characteristic fine needlework displaying a plethora of patterns, moods and themes.Over the years, various clans around the region have appropriated the essential features of Kutch embroidery to create distinctive styles of their own, such as Rabari, Ahir, Mochi and Mutwa.Embroidery also communicates self and status. Differences in style create and maintain distinctions that identify community, sub-community, and social status within community. The "mirror work" of Kutch is really a myriad of styles, which present a richly textured map of regions and ethnic groups. Each style, a distinct combination of stitches, patterns and colors, and rules for using them, was shaped by historical, socio-economic and cultural factors. Traditional but never static, styles evolved over time, responding to prevailing trends.

Khadi FusionIn a textile historians words, Khadi is the only instance of eco-viable, sustainable, luxury fabric in the world. The innovative use of Khadi in mainstream fashion has strongly influenced the image of what was once seen as a drab fabric. New or old innovations, pristine or dressed upthey are all adding up to change the big picture. Younger designers have given Khadi a much-needed edgy avatar.

Women can choose from khadi kurtas that are printed, embroidered or have applique work done on them. They can be worn over salwars, churidars or denims depending on their preferenceShort khadi kurtis look great with jeans, chinos or khakis. You get them in bold colours, stripes as well as with prints. Long khadi kurtas are more suited for formal events.Khadi sarees are a huge hit abroad. Women can make a big fashion statement by wearing a khadi cotton or silk saree.

Khadi Corporate Sixty-one years back our freedom fighters didn't know they were making a fashion statement when they donned the simple homespun yarn-khadi. Synonymous with the politicos and the intelligentsia, khadi has now found favour with corporates as well. The traditional white kurtas have given way to varied colourful forms of clothing that are comfortable and stylish.Nothing beats the elegance of a white starched khadi kurta. The sheer texture and fall of the fabric makes it extremely attractive.

Kashida of Kashmir Kashmiri embroidery is well known for the beauty of its colour, texture, design and technique. Probably, the best-known Indian embroidery is the 'Kashida of Kashmir'. Kashida embroidery, is as colorful and as beautiful as Kashmir itself. Embroiderers often draw inspiration from nature. Birds, blossoms and flowers, creepers, chinar leaves, ghobi, mangoes, lotus, and trees are the most common themes. The entire pattern is uses one or two embroidery stitches. Kashida is primarily done on canvas with crystal threads, but Kashida also employs pashmina and leather threads.Kashida embroidery, which is famous for its sheer beauty, has attained the limits of fantasy and incredulity. Patterns and color schemes are magnificently employed in Kashida by the crafts-man with a mood aligned to the spirit of nature.Kashmiri embroidery is practiced by men and it is essentially a commercial craft.According to Ramala S. Dongekery, the shawl industry in Kashmir was introduced by Zain-ul-Abedin. Akbar was also responsible for introducing a new type of shawl - the Dowshala meaning Twin shawl. In this two similar shawls were woven together, then sewn back to back so the under surface of the shawls were not visible.The crowning glory of crafts in Kashmir has to be the Pashmina. Pashmina is the indigenous word for cashmere, which is a term applied by European colonialists to a fabric that was known primarily as a product of Kashmir.

Gadwal & Dharmawaram Nurtured in a small town called Gadwal in Andhra Pradesh, Gadwal sari is known for its beautiful mix of fabric and designs. The entire sari is made of cotton while its borders are designed in silk. Attributing its designs to the temples and their architecture, one can see beautiful and exotic shapes adorning the borders and body of the sari. This sari in particular is the reason for a tremendous growth in textile industries in Andhra Pradesh. Beautifully woven and designed saris are now manufactured to increase the production and to widen its popularity on a worldwide scale.The Gadwal sarees were hand woven varieties of sari, which were the main source of livelihood for the weavers of Andhra Pradesh. Gadwal sarees were a big hit, right from the beginning. Hence, some weavers from Gadwal were sent to Benaras by the king to learn the art of weaving this particular style. The outcome was hand woven variety of Gadwal saris that became immensely popular. In the 1930s, the commercialization of Gadwal saris wherein the spinning looms and other small manual machines came into existence to help the weavers. Much later, textiles and handlooms took over the entire commercialization of Gadwal sari.Gadwal Saree is a mixture of cotton and silk, where the entire drape is completely cotton-weaved and while, the borders are of silk. The whole match up is done in such a way that one can wear these saris for any occasion. Dharmavaram is a small town of rich handloom cluster situated in the District of Anantapur of Rayalaseema region in A.P. Amongst the silk weaves the Dharmavaram silk sarees are famous. Broad solid colours borders with contrast pallou woven with brocaded gold patterns are the coveted wedding sarees. Simpler patterns for every day use have the specialty of being woven in two colours which give an effect of muted double shades accentuated by the solid colour border and pallove. Though the Dharmavaram sarees are some what similar to Kanchipuram sarees of Tamilnadu, yet the muted colours, the double shades create a total different effect.