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