BEAUTIFUL DRAPE : November Edition

Kanakavalli's November pick for The Beautiful Drape is a series of stunning kanjivarams woven on a traditional adai loom, featuring laborious hand weaving techniques unique to the craft, and showcasing a splendid interplay of colour with rich gold zari. From Kanakavalli's Vault range of heirloom kanjivarams that are exclusive to the brand, these saris are testament to the extraordinary skill of the weaver and the richness of the textile heritage.

In each of the kanjivarams featured here, the pallu is attached to the sari using the classic petni technique in which the weaver joins the threads of the body to the threads of the pallu entirely by hand. This ancient and painstaking process allows the pallu to be woven in a contrasting colour to that of the body of the sari, which is woven with checks and subtly highlighted by fine zari in the warp. The saris all have korvai borders, the jointed border attachments that are a defining feature of the queen of silks and offer themselves to a myriad possibilities for colour play. The borders follow the ganga jamuna layout, each side woven in a different hue. The vivid colours, thoughtfully chosen by the weaver to perfectly complement each other, enhance the dramatic layout and bold geometry of the kanjivaram drape.

The adai loom was traditionally used before the advent of jacquard weaving, and while it requires precision and the meticulous skill of the weaver, it also lends itself to designs woven in exquisite relief with a striking embossed effect. Not restricted by size or format, the pallu of these saris are beautifully adorned with motifs and patterns forming mirror images of each other, intricate in detail and magnificent in execution. These saris are woven with zari containing 50% of silver and 4% gold.

We hope you enjoy this month's edition of The Beautiful Drape, a tribute to the ancient and rich kanjivaram craft tradition.