Kanchi Silk Sarees

              JUST like Darjeeling in West Bengal is known the world over for its tea, Kancheepuram is known for its silk saris. Silk weaving in Kancheepuram is a centuries-old tradition.
              The traditional Kancheepuram silk saris are hand-woven in two parts (the pitni technique). The pallu and the border are woven in one colour as one unit and attached to the body of the sari, which is woven separately and in another colour. The sari is woven with dyed silk yarn, which is interleaved with design made with zari - silk thread twisted with a thin silver wire and then gilded with pure gold. Technically, the silk thread used in Kancheepuram is made of three threads twisted together. Woven from pure mulberry silk, the Kancheepuram silk enjoys a reputation for texture, lustre, durability and finish. Thus, the Kancheepuram silk saris are usually stronger (and more expensive) than those woven elsewhere in the State. While 75 per cent of the zari comes from Gujarat where its production is a cottage industry, the rest comes from Tamil Nadu Zari, the government-owned factory, which is one of its kind in the country. The silk comes primarily from Karnataka.
              A unique feature of the Kancheepuram silk sari is its strength, which is made possible by the twisted yarn - double warp and double weft, that gives it the weight; its elaborate border designs usually of temples, peacocks and yali (a horse-like motif) and body patterns of floral dots, stripes and checks; its vibrant colour contrasts that are combinations of traditionally bright, earthy-scarlet, emerald green, black, ochre, purple, steel blue, peacock blue or turquoise; and its exquisite design (korvai saris) beautifully integrating the different colours of the body and the border and pallu.
             However, over the centuries, several weaving traditions have been lost. With technological development, computer-aided designs that are easily replicated are becoming popular.

• Temples of Kanchipuram

• Kanchipuram Silks

• Education in Kanchipuram

• Reaching Kanchipuram