KANAKAVALLI : VARNA SUTRA

Varna Sutra : Patra, Pushpam - Kanjivaram's Flora

Motifs offer a new dimension to the visual appeal of a traditional sari, upholding a unique form of creative expression within the craft. Plant and floral motifs have held a place of importance in...

Varna Sutra - Yalis: Divine Defenders

As most of the world is in lockdown, and we all navigate this uncertain and rapidly evolving climate, Kanakavalli turns to the ornamentation of the kanjivaram to find a symbol for the times. In ...

Varna Sutra : Mriga, Pakshi - Of Birds & Beasts

In the Varna Sutra series, we have explored the colours of the kanjivaram: their special significance and meanings, and the way they have been translated into symbolic expressions in the drape. In...

Varna Sutra : Ratna Mudra - Bejewelled

Indian jewellery is as old as civilisation itself. Excavations of the ancient Indus Valley civilisation, in fact, yielded examples of beaded jewellery. In the art of adornment, Indians have used m...