How do they weave IKKAT?

We took the opportunity, back in the day, to visit the handloom weaving villages in India. We immediately fell in love with these ikkat textiles as they are some of the best craftsmanship we have seen in ikkat weaving in the remote villages of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. These textiles are woven to be displayed and are gorgeous as they are woven with passion.


What’s incredible to realize is that over 2500 knots are hand-tied to create the pattern and multiple dye baths are used. Just the tying and dyeing of the silk yarn takes about three long days! And then the actual weaving takes about another three to four days, so the whole process takes about one week to produce ikkat textiles of this quality.

Ikkat is the technique of resist-tying and dyeing a pattern in the warp or weft yarns prior to weaving. Multiple colors can be achieved by dyeing different sections in sequence, from the lightest to the darkest tones. Most of the time, it is weft ikkat, with the pattern resist-dyed in the weft threads and woven on a plain color warp. In this technique, the preparation of the yarn is more arduous than the actual weaving, requiring precise calculations before actually dyeing the yarns. A skilled ikkat weaver has the ability to anticipate the final position and registration of the pattern in the cloth as she ties the threads in advance of weaving. The more numerous the knots, the smaller and tighter the bindings, the finer and more defined the resulting pattern.

Tussar silk sarees are brush painted in beautiful pastel colors

Tussar Silk, also known by its Sanskrit name Kosa silk, some even call it Tassar, is produced from Tusser silkworms. Produced mainly in the Indian state, Jharkhand, Tussar is valued for its texture and natural gold colour, which is unusually rich and deep.

Tussar Silk is a type of wild silk – it is obtained from silk worms that are not bred on mulberry trees but whose cocoons are collected from the local trees like Sal, Arjun and Saja. It is cheaper than cultivated silk Some Tussar silk now a days made is called non-violent silk, or Ahimsa Silk, which is extracted from the cocoon after the silkworm larva has left it.

Traditionally, Tussar was dyed only with natural dyes but over time, the range of color and motifs has increased dramatically, thanks to the introduction of chemical dyes
Every product made out of Tassar has a tale to say and store workers say that a lot of hard work goes into making of the
products.

Purvi is aiming to be a part of Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Development Corporation Ltd, which aims to promote tussar silk culture in the country and over seas.

Vegetable dye hand painted Kalamkari dupattas at their very best

The art of Kalamkari painting is one of the oldest among the traditional arts of India. Drawing upon a repertoire of well-loved epics, these fabulous textiles are hand painted with natural dyes produced from vegetables and leaves.Each design on a single dupatta or a sari takes around 45 days to complete. The designs are not essentially only epics. Another variation in the design from this Kalamkari town of Sri Kalahasti is the full body of a  Peacock depicted very artistically. Check out some of the Kalamkari designs that we produce at Purvi.

The other variety is the famous 'Tree of Life' design which has been depicted in several Indian art forms. Other than that, Hindu gods and deities have been portrayed in a magnificent way to the liking of customers inclined to  Indian art and culture.


The other aspect of Kalamkari is an art that involves hand block printing apart from painting. The figures with rounded shapes and border designs are typical of Kalamkari. Wall hangings, prayer mats, rugs and carpets are popular Kalamkari products.

This tradition which developed in the temple town of Kalahasti is predominantly focussed on themes from Hindu mythology, renowned epics like Ramayana, Mahabharatha, images of Gods and heroes. Masulipatnam style is more famous for the home furnishings, bed covers and curtains but the traditional Kalahasti style is more prominently seen in Dupattas, Sarees, borders and patches,wall hangings and dress materials.

Since the whole process involves natural colors and chemicals, the art has fast gained a place for itself in the international markets.


The Kalamkari designs at Purvi are awe inspiring and promise a  treat to your eyes.

Where to buy good quality Maheshwari Sarees?

Welcome to Purvi, the one stop shop for Indian ethnic dresses, designer Indian sarees, South Indian Wedding Sarees, Uppada Sarees, Maheshwari Sarees, Kalamkari Saris, Designer Sarees, Hand loom Salwar suits, Indian bridal sarees, top quality hand loom cotton fabrics and silk fabrics.We are committed to providing you with most desired quality craftsmanship with the most reasonable price tag. The traditional excellence in our products which are flawless in style and design, presents the perfect amalgamation of traditional and contemporary styles. Our unusual, rare and spirited collection showcase contemporary trends, purity of value and legacy of craftsmanship to evoke the essence of an Indian woman.

At Purvi, we want to be your first choice for all your requirements of Indian ethnic dresses,Hand loom cotton, Silk fabrics & silk based home furnishing. We believe that with our large array of colors and variety, you will never need to go elsewhere plus the added bonus of paying affordable prices to get top quality Indian Womens apparel. The inhouse team of designers provide us with the most innovative designs, giving us an edge over others. We are always aware of the latest fashion trends and changes in the fashion market and designing is done keeping that in mind.

Latest Salwar Kameez designs and the popularity of Indian Salwar Kameez

The Indian Salwar Kameez is the regular outfit of the younger generation, simply because of its ease in adorning it on a day to day basis. Salwar kameez designs have evolved and have become more contemporary to suit the new generation. This classic shift in momentum has transformed its traditional look to give it more fashionable cuts and styles. The Latest salwar kameez designs are definitely more trendy and fashionable now than ever before yet retaining its class and elegance.


The Patiala Salwar Kameez is an outfit normally worn by North Indian women and serves as a traditional dress worn by certain communities in south-central Asia. When we think about Indian clothing, the first thing that comes to our mind is the Indian salwar kameez. The popularity of Indian salwar kameez has not by-passed any part of the fashion world. Celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez and very recently Pamela Anderson have worn the Indian salwar kameez. Why salwar kameez you ask? Its simply the most popular and comfortable Indian dress. The versatility is good for every occasion and it can be worn in all seasons. The changing trends in fashion have spilled their influence on the Indian salwar kameez. The many varieties in salwar kameez includes the Bollywood Salwar Kameez,embroidered salwar kameez, Pakistani Salwar Kameez,casual, formal, indo western for every occasion just for your liking.


The Salwar Kameez you wear talks a lot about your personality. The style speaks with the vibrant and beautifully colored embroidery or ornate designs; these are common parts of Indian salwar kameez. The fabrics used are from Hand loom cotton to silk, crepes to georgettes, satins to chiffons, cotton silk, Tussar Silk, Khadi Silk, Raw Silk, Matka Silk, Herringbone and more. There is a lot of value added to these Salwar kameez, the work involved is like Zardosi work, mirror work, sequins, handwork, chikan work. These value additions make the Indian Salwar Kameez look absolutely stunning.

Silk sarees are designed to make you feel traditionally fashionable

Silk saree was always considered the ceremonial wear at religious rituals and weddings. The Devanga and Saligar weavers community in Tamil Nadu were reputed for their Pure Silk Sarees and Designer Silk Sarees. Thanks to its double warp and weft, the Kanjeevaram Silk saree is one of the most superior silks in the world. How do you think they make Pure Gold Zari? The gold that you see in the motifs is incorporated by dipping the silk thread into liquid gold and silver. This gives the richness to these South Indian Wedding Sarees and enhances the beauty of the silk. If you ever want to check for the purity of silk just take a few threads and burn them. Pure silk will always coagulate and leave a black powdery residue while any kind of artificial silk or wool will leave the smell of burning hair.

Pure Silk Sarees and Kancheepuram Silk Sarees are ideal gifts during festivals and special occasions like weddings and birthdays! To check out the Beautiful Collection of hand picked Kanchipuram Silk Sarees visit this Saree shop in Mumbai.

Madhubani painting is an art practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar state, India. It has been done traditionally by the women of villages around the present town of Madhubani

Madhubani paintings are pretty and well recognized by their distinct style of painting. Colorful and vivid in their description and get, the Madhubani art form is well appreciated by one and all. They add a dash of vibrancy in the room and enhance its appeal when used as home decor.

Madhubani Painting on a Mangalagiri Dupatta

Madhubani painting is an expression of day-to-day experiences and beliefs. Madhubani painting is a traditional art symbolism, simplicity and beauty. In the Madhubani painting, the treatment of color is beautifully done. The themes of daily activities, nature, flora and fauna and Hindu Gods are the most prominent.

Madhubani paintings are characterized by the vibrant and bold use of colors and traditional geometric patterns that supports the main theme. Some of the main attributes of all the Madhubani paintings double line border, ornate floral patterns, abstract-like figures of deities and bulging eyes and a jolting nose of the faces of the figures.

The Madhubani painting is a traditional folk art form which has succeeded in creating a place for itself in the internationally and is recognized world wide.

Purvi is the only boutique in India that has been specializing exclusive art form Madhubani paintings on cloth. In particular, this mesmerizing creation was conceived on Mangalagiri Zari Border dupattas and showcased in our retail collection in the Summers of 2007.

                              

Purvi presents the Dazzling Silver Fashion Jewelry

Purvi has recently launched its Silver Fashion Jewelry. We have one of the largest selections of silver jewelry in the world.

Shop Online for the finest Silver Jewelry at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Purvi-Handlooms-Fan-club/100515666687331?v=app_135607783795

We carry silver chains, silver necklaces, silver bracelets, wholesale silver rings, silver charms, silver pendants, silver earrings and much more silver jewelry in many different specialty collections.

Huge selection of top quality sterling silver jewelry pieces.
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                                            Take advantage of our expertise in Women's collections for 17 years

Kanjeevaram Queen of Sarees

The way Kanjeevaram Silk Sarees attract women to it clearly states that these sarees are an all time favorite. The Kanjeevaram Saree gets its name from the town it originated in - Kanchipuram.

Kanjeevaram is only its slightly anglicized version! Kanchipuram is a little temple town located about 75kms from Chennai in the Southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The Kanchipuram Saree is made of heavy silk and its so durable that it can be washed with normal water at home. A unique trait of Kanjeevaram silks is the bold and bright color, loved by almost every Indian woman.Of the various silk produced in India, the Kanjeevaram Silk has gained a remarkable reputation all over India and the credit completely goes to the skill and artistry of the silk weavers. Indian silks and Kanjeevaram Silks in particular have been creating waves in the fashion capitals of the world and in haute couture since the past few years.

The finest quality of the silk, the rich and stunning hues and the artistic design of the borders and the pallu set this silk from South India apart from the rest of the country. The Zari work on the border and the pallu are generally woven using gold dipped silver threads. The designers, that design the intricate borders and the exquisite pallu, along with the weavers form a team that weaves exquisiteness from a few strands of silk. Every Kancheepuram Saree is an imaginative creation; a unique masterpiece and no two sarees are identical. Each saree is usually six yards in length and some come in the Nine yard length variety too varying in width. They are classy attire, fit for countless ocassions like wedding, religious ceremonies and parties.

Mangalagiri dress materials on the verge of extinction!

After spoiling our patrons and dominating the market with a wide array of color choice for almost 20 years, we are sad to announce that Mangalagiri Sarees and Mangalagiri cotton fabrics are facing extinction.

The basic cost of the fabric has surged exponentially in the recent past due to the fact that yarn prices in the domestic market are soaring beyond proportions due to increased international demand and high volume export supplies.Secondly, due to the shortage of Mangalagiri Hand loom weavers who work for meagre wages.

The government is doing everything to support this hand loom cluster but from the look of it, this traditional textile is short lived.

Beautiful hand block printed Pashmina Saree

Pashmina is a type of fine wool extracted from a Pashmina goat of the Himalayan ranges. The wool obtained is hand woven into various textiles such as the World renowned Pashmina shawl.

Aqua Green block printed Pashmina Saree

The innovation of Purvi is in the development of the Pashmina Saree and the Hand painted Pashmina dupatta which features a much lighter fabric,softer texture and has more gaps for the fabric to breathe unlike the authentic Pashmina fabric.                                                                                      
When Pashmina dupattas and Pashmina Sarees were given some value additions like thread work and hand embroidery they appeared to have a more aesthetic appeal and soon enough it got the fashion prominence during the mid-'90s. Later, a finer and superior quality of yarn known as Cashmere was introduced in Pashmina Saris, which gave an enhanced sheen and softness that the fabric (cashmere blended with silk) had.

The Patola style Silk Ikat almost extinct

Neon Red Silk Ikat dupatta - Its 'Pallu' woven in a 'Pochampalli' style with golden gas mercerized tissue.

                         

Achieving gorgeous eco friendly fabrics using Kalamkari art

The art of Kalamkari originated in Andhra Pradesh in South India is the originator of this exquisite artwork that got flourished under the patronage of the Mughals and the Golconda Nizams. Kalamkari is a form of hand printing or block printing normally done on cotton eco friendly fabric using only vegetable dyes or natural colours.  Apart from printing, painting is another main component of producing eco friendly fabrics using Kalamkari art.

The art of Kalamkari can be classified into two major forms - Masulipatnam Style and Sri Kalahasti Style. The foundation for both schools of Kalamkari painting is more or less the same Masulipatnam style uses block-printing procedures, whereas the hand painting process is more complex and pain staking. In this temple town of Sri Kalahasti, these handful of artisans use a pen for creating patterns and free hand drawings, the filling of color is entirely done by hand. The beauty of this Kalamkari hand painting is the usage of only natural(Vegetable) dyes and colors, the entire process requires 17 complex steps to complete. The cotton fabric gets its sheen when soaked in a mixture of resin and cow milk for about an hour. To obtain different effects cow dung, seeds, crushed flowers and different plants are used. After the application of every color, the cloth has to be washed, and the quality of the cloth used is generally so good that they can take up to 20 washings without any mitigation. Iron fillings and molasses are used to draw the outlines of the designs.

People all over the world have started realizing the harmful effects of dangerous chemical dyes and hence started developing the taste for naturally dyed eco friendly fabrics.  Kalamkari painting is the best example of natural colour artwork. Its time we switched to Eco Friendly fabrics

The aesthetic beauty of a Kalamkari Salwar Kameez

Kalamkari hand-painting on fabric is a technique used to embellish temple cloth and hangings. Vegetable dyes in deep rich shades like red and blue are used predominantly. Religious themes dominate,with temples,epics and mythological figures being depicted frequently. The aesthetic quality of the fine Kalamkari derives from the superb conceptual and technical skill involved in the work.

How have we added more fire to this technique?

Ikat designs are really subtle with the weave patterns not often glaringly noticable. The 'Daman' of the dupatta is really the only place where you can see any prominent pattern of weaving. So, we exploited the body of these dupattas to engrave amazing murals and figures from events of the Hindu Mythology.

                                 

Showcasing traditional Indian Salwar Kameez has been the main stay of this boutique in Mumbai.

Sambalpuri Saree - Eloquence in the Six yards

Sambalpuri sarees are from the East coast of India, precisely from Orissa. Sambalpuri sarees are one of a kind and are really unparalleled to the best designer sarees of India. These sarees come in a variety of designs and colours. So, whatever your taste, you will alwas find one which takes you by surprise.

In the 80s, the Sambalpuri saree gained substantial value as a brand, thanks to a decent non-governmental support and the establishment of weavers' cooperatives. The Sambalpuri saree was amongst the favorites of the Late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Superfine Ikat from Orissa - Ikat in its finest form

Patola style Ikat Saree

Ikat is one of the finest form of Indian traditional textiles.In India, women wear Ikat Saris, Ikat Salwar Kameez and Ikat fabrics in general are used for all kinds of garment manufaturing. I know of a lot of men who wear Shirts made of Ikat textiles simply because of the ease & comfort in adorning them. Infact, Ikat designs are really subtle making Ikat fabrics one of the hottest fashion products in 2010. 

Click here to find the hottest selling Ikat Sarees