Kalamkari Work on Kanchipuram Sarees

Light Beige Pure Kanchipuram Silk Saree

Kalamkari sarees and Kancheepuram silk sarees are arguably two of the most beautiful garments from South India. Both of them are the end result of an extensive process involving the skills of artisans specially trained in their craft.  Each, individually, is a highly prized garment but when these two arts are combined, the result in something completely  and truly dazzling.

While Kanchi silk sarees are originally from the Kanchipuram region of Tamil Nadu, Kalamkari sarees are associated with Andhra Pradesh, where the beautiful art form of Kalamkari first originated.  Kanchipuram silk sarees are known for their heavy and luxurious look that is a result of a complicated hand weaving process which can take several days, even weeks. It combines purest silk threads with gold threads to create a rich, lustrous fabric woven with intricate patterns. However, like all South Indian sarees, the key attractions are the borders and the pallu. This is where the various additional designs are embroidered, embellished or added on.

Kalamkari pallus are usually attached to the end of the Kanchi silk sarees, as the creation of hand-painted (or hand-block printed) Kalamkari designs takes a long time and requires a lot of finesse and technique, which is best done separately and then added on to the saree at a later stage. Kalamkari is a great addition because of its exquisite and detailed beauty, which perfectly matches the luxurious look of Kanchi silk sarees. The hand-painted Kalamkari patterns are usually very mythological in nature, depicting various scenes from the epics, which again matches the auspicious nature of the Kanchi silk saree.

The appeal of these gorgeous block printed sarees is no longer limited to specific cultures or regions. Women across the world can browse a wide variety of Kalamkari painted Kanchi pattu sarees online at Utsav Fashion.