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.