Pochampalli

Pochampally Saree or Pochampalli Ikat is a saree

made in Bhoodan Pochampally, Nalgonda district, India.
They are popular for their traditional geometric patterns
in Ikat style of dyeing.The intricate geometric design find
their way into the hands of skillful weavers and make it
to the market as beautiful sarees and dress material.

Pochampally Ikat uniqueness lies in the transfer of
intricate design and colouring onto warp and weft
threads first and then weave them together. The fabric
is cotton, silk and sico - a mix of exquisite silk and
cotton. Increasingly, the colours themselves are from
natural sources and their blends.

Pochampally, a cluster of 80 villages, has traditional
looms, whose design is more than a century-old. Today
this Silk City, which is more of a cottage industry, is
home to more than 10000 weaving families in 100
villages. The fabric is marketed through the cooperative
society and APCO, the master weavers and the
business houses in Pochampally. Pochampally does
more than Rs.1000000 annual business in terms of yarn
sales, purchase of handloom products and sales. The
government in 2010 divided the belt into two clusters
Pochampally 1 and Pochampally 2, and is proving
common weaving centres. Because of its unique design
efforts are on to revive the dying art.
Some items are not handlooms and the sarees are
handlooms.




Khadi Streetwear
In India, Khadi is not just a cloth, it is a whole movement
started by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
The Khadi movement promoted an ideology, an idea
that Indians could be self-reliant on cotton and be free
from the high priced goods and clothes which the British
were selling to them. The British would buy cotton from
India at cheap prices and export them to Britain where
they were woven to make clothes. These clothes were
then brought back to India to be sold at hefty prices.
The #Khadi movement aimed at boycotting foreign
goods including cotton and promoting Indian goods,
thereby improving India's economy. Mahatma Gandhi
began promoting the spinning of khd for rural self-
employment and self-reliance (instead of using cloth
manufactured industrially in Britain) in 1920s India thus
making khadi an integral part and icon of the Swadeshi
movement. The freedom struggle revolved around the
use of khd fabrics and the dumping of foreign-made
clothes. When some people complained about the
costliness of khadi to Mahatma Gandhi, he started
wearing only dhoti.
Khadi or Khaddar a term for handspun and hand-
woven cloth
from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily made out
of cotton.
The raw materials may sometimes also include silk,
or wool, which are all spun into yarn on a spinning
wheel called a charkha. It is a versatile fabric, cool in
summer and warm in winter. In order to improve the
look, khd/khaddar is sometimes starched to give it a
stiffer feel. It is widely accepted in fashion circles.

Kalamkari

Qalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-
printed cotton textile, produced in parts of India and
in Iran. The word is derived from
the Persian words ghalam (pen)
and kari (craftmanship), meaning drawing with a pen
(Ghalamkar).
The Machilipatnam Kalamkari craft made
at Pedana near by Machilipatnam in Krishna
district, Andhra Pradesh, evolved with patronage of
the Mughals and the Golconda sultanate.
There are two distinctive styles of kalamkari art in India -
one, the Srikalahasti style and the other,
the Machilipatnam style of art. The Srikalahasti style of
Kalamkari, wherein the "kalam" or pen is used for free
hand drawing of the subject and filling in the colours, is
entirely hand worked. This style flowered around
temples and their patronage and so had an almost
religious identity - scrolls, temple
hangings, chariot banners and the like, depicted deities
and scenes taken from the great Hindu epics -
Ramayana.Mahabarata, Puranas and the mythological
classics. This style owes its present status to Smt.
Kamaladevi Chattopadhayay who popularized the art as
the first Chairperson of the All India Handicrafts Board.
Only natural dyes are used in Kalamkari and it involves
seventeen painstaking steps.

Golabama
The concept of Golabama came into existence when
two artisans Ramdas & Konka sayulu, took the
inspiration from beautiful women carrying milk in a pot
on her head on the streets of SIDDIPET. They then
gave the design of this picture to the weavers who then
converted them on the saris. As their sari became
popular, it came to be known as a Golabama sari. This
took place during the 1940s. In 1980s ABCO revived
the art of weaving of Golabama saris.
The weavers are extremely talented at their work.
However it is hard to make ends meet. Weavers lack
credit, with little or no access to the market.
In 2010, due to their poor economic state, 200 weavers
committed suicide. The shifting of a generation of
weavers to various other sectors is leading to the death
of an age old craft. The Golabama sari with its unique
motif presents a dignified and authentic appeal to the
wearer. The sari is found in lightweight cotton & in silk in
a wide range of colors and is priced at very affordable
rates.
In our busy city lives we fail to realize the struggle and
sweat thats put into the production process of these
saris. Any form of help to the craft may come as a
blessing to more weavers than we can imagine.


Kutch Lehenga
Kutch work embroidery is one of the most easily
identifiable styles of embroidery from Gujarat and a well
patronised handicraft textile in India. Deriving its name
from its places of origin, the Kutch and Saurashtra
regions of Gujarat, Kutch embroidery is characterised by
the use of vibrant colors, mirrors, beads and intricately
extensive needlework that embellishes the entire fabric
on which it is based.
Usually done on cotton or silk fabric, Kutch work
embroidery involves the use of silk or woollen thread in
fine stitches to create elaborate patterns, and draws its
inspiration from romantic, architectural and human
motifs, as well as Persian and Mughal arts. The colors
used are mainly green, indigo, deep red, black, yellow
and ivory. The embroidery is also distinctive in its use of
mirrors and beads, placed strategically in between
patterns. A popular and recognised example of Kutch
embroidery is the ghagra choli (a traditional skirt and
blouse ensemble) of Gujarat, especially worn during the
Navaratri season.

Khadi Waistcoat
Khadi is a versatile fabric, cool in summers and
warm in winters. Being a cruder form of
material, it crumples much faster than other
preparations of cotton. In order to improve the
look, Khadi is often starched to have a stiffer
shape. It is widely accepted in fashion circles
these days.
Mahatma Gandhi began promoting the spinning
of Khadi for rural self-employment in 1920s in
India. He also wanted to spread the message of
not using foreign clothes. The freedom struggle
revolved around the use of Khadi fabrics and the
dumping of foreign-made clothes. Thus it
symbolized the political ideas and independence
itself, and to this day most politicians in India
are seen only in Khadi clothing. The flag of India
is technically only allowed to be made from this
material.
For a trendy look, try wearing a khadi silk waistcoat over
a silk shirt and a pair of well-fitting jeans. Accessorise it
with a nice printed scarf or cravat. Woolen khadi jackets
can be sported in winters over shirts or tees.
Chikankari
Chikan is a traditional embroidery style
from Lucknow, India. Literally translated, the word
means embroidery. Believed to have been introduced
by Nur Jehan, Mughal emperor Jahangir's wife,[1] it is
one of Lucknow's most famous textile decoration styles.
There are several theories about the origin of
Chikankari. Chikankari - the process of chikan - was
basically invented in Lucknow. It developed quickly
during the period when the Mughals ruled and consisted
of styles inspired by Persians. Lucknow grew into an
international market for its renowned Chikankari work.
There are references to Indian Chikan work as early as
3rd century BC by Megasthenes, who mentioned the
use of flowered muslins by Indians. There is also a tale
that mentions how a traveler taught Chikankari to a
peasant in return of water to drink. However, the Noor
Jahan story is the most popular of the lot.[2] The name
Chikan has been derived from the Persian word Chakin
or Chikeen meaning a cloth wrought with needlework
Chikan began as a type of white-on-white (or whitework)
embroidery.
Chikankari is a delicate and artfully done hand
embroidery on a variety of textile fabric like muslin, silk,
chiffon, organza, net etc. White thread is embroidered
on cool, pastel shades of light muslin and cotton
garments. Nowadays chikan embroidery is also done
with coloured and silk threads in different colours to
meet the recent fashion trends and keep chikankari up-
to-date. Lucknow is the heart of the Chikankariindustry
today and the variety is known as Lucknawi chikan.
Chikankari or Chikan work in the recent times has also
adapted additional embellishments like Mukaish,
Kamdani, Badla, Kamdani, Sequin, bead and mirror
work, which gives it a rich look. Chikan embroidery is
mostly done on fabrics like, Cotton, Semi Georgette,
Pure Georgette, Crepe, Chiffon, Silk and any other
fabric which is light and which highlights the embroidery.
Also, it should be taken care of that the fabric is not too
thick or hard, else the embroidery needle won't pierce it.
The piece begins with the use of one or more pattern
blocks that are used to block-print a pattern on the
ground fabric. The embroiderer then stitches the
pattern, and the finished piece is carefully washed to
remove all traces of the printed pattern.

Kutch Anarkali
History traces the origin of Kutch work embroidery back
to mochis, the community of shoemakers, who used to
work on royal textiles and decorative objects. It is also
believed that this unique style of embroidery was
brought about by Kathi cattle breeders, a group of
wanderers associated with Karnaof the Mahabharat,
who eventually settled down to produce the
characteristic fine needlework displaying a plethora of
patterns, moods and themes.
Over the years, various clans around the region have
appropriated the essential features of Kutch embroidery
to create distinctive styles of their own, such as Rabari,
Ahir, Mochi and Mutwa.
Embroidery also communicates self and status.
Differences in style create and maintain
distinctions that identify community, sub-
community, and social status within community.
The "mirror work" of Kutch is really a myriad of
styles, which present a richly textured map of
regions and ethnic groups. Each style, a distinct
combination of stitches, patterns and colors, and
rules for using them, was shaped by historical,
socio-economic and cultural factors. Traditional
but never static, styles evolved over time,
responding to prevailing trends.

Khadi Fusion
In a textile historians words, Khadi is the only instance of eco-viable, sustainable, luxury fabric in the world. The innovative use of
Khadi in mainstream fashion has strongly influenced the image of what was once seen as a drab fabric. New or old innovations,
pristine or dressed upthey are all adding up to change the big picture. Younger designers have given Khadi a much-needed edgy
avatar.

Women can choose from khadi kurtas that are printed, embroidered or have applique work done on them. They can be worn over
salwars, churidars or denims depending on their preference
Short khadi kurtis look great with jeans, chinos or khakis. You get them in bold colours, stripes as well as with prints. Long khadi
kurtas are more suited for formal events.
Khadi sarees are a huge hit abroad. Women can make a big fashion statement by wearing a khadi cotton or silk saree.


Khadi Corporate
Sixty-one years back our freedom fighters didn't know they were making a fashion statement when they donned the simple
homespun yarn-khadi. Synonymous with the politicos and the intelligentsia, khadi has now found favour with corporates as well.
The traditional white kurtas have given way to varied colourful forms of clothing that are comfortable and stylish.
Nothing beats the elegance of a white starched khadi kurta. The sheer texture and fall of the fabric makes it extremely