On National Handloom Day, we wanted to celebrate the people who contribute to the creation of a handwoven Kanchipuram silk saree. Without them, it would not be possible to create any stunning piece.
We weaver who crafts a handwoven Kanchipuram silk saree is just one of many highly-skilled artisans who contribute to its making. This National Handloom Day, we featured the processes involved in the creation of a handwoven Kanchipuram silk saree, paying tribute to the skill and dedication of the people who ensure its perfection.
The weaving of silk sarees has shaped the town of Panjukalipatti, 20 kms from Salem in Tamil Nadu. A sizable part of the population is involved in weaving and related crafts. It’s here, at the Sri Meenachi Silks facility, that our silk sarees are handcrafted by a team of artisans who prepare the silk yarns, build the loom and its many components, weave the sarees and certify that they’re of the finest quality.
Our commitment to quality has been a key element throughout our journey. We want you to feel proud when you wear your Sri Meenachi Silk creations—and we know how important it is for you to feel confident that what you buy is authentic, high-quality and genuinely handcrafted.
On 7th August every year, National Handloom Day celebrates the weavers who handcraft fabrics on the loom. Yet, there are several ancillary functions that support the weavers’ work, and over the many years that we’ve worked with them, our admiration for these craftspeople has only grown. Here’s a look at just a few of the many people and processes that make our handwoven Kanchipuram silk sarees so inimitable.
The Handloom Weaver
Weavers are one of India’s oldest professions; their skills date back to ancient civilizations such as the Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE). But even in today’s fast-paced world where most textiles are mass produced by machines and computers, many weavers still choose to continue their traditional art form by working with handlooms instead of industrial looms.
In order to create a single Kanchipuram silk saree, each weaver must first create two looms: one for creating the warp (the horizontal threads) and one for creating the weft (the vertical threads). Each loom requires about 14 hours of weaving per day; it takes about two months for one person to complete a Masterpiece.
