In the final of our 3 part series promoting the art of hand-loomed textiles; we focus on the ever-green silk sarees of the South.
Kanchipuram or Kanjivaram Silk sarees get their name because they are a traditionally woven silk from a village called Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, India.
The shine and durability of the fabric have made these sarees popular among women across the globe. Weavers take a silk thread and twist a silver thread over the thread, after which it is dipped into pure gold to make the normally, wide zari border. The border and sheen are features that distinguish these sarees from many other types of silk sarees made in India.
The time consuming art of hand-looming the silk and zari threads mean that these sarees tend to be expensive (for genuine, high quality products) and last for years without losing their shine.