Context

• Award winning artisan weaver, B Krishnamoorthy, is creating a repository with samples of all the designs, patterns and motifs traditional to Kanjeevaram silk sari weaving, preserving fine pieces for posterity.

About

• The Kanchipuram silk sari is a type of silk sari made in the Kanchipuram region in Tamil Nadu.
• It has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2005–2006.
• The saris are woven from pure mulberry silk thread.
• The pure mulberry silk and the Zari used in the making of Kanchipuram saris comes from South India.
• Temple borders, checks, stripes and floral (buttas) are traditional designs found on a Kanchipuram saris.
• The patterns and designs in the kanchipuram saris were inspired with images and scriptures in South Indian temples or natural features like leaves, birds and animals.
• These are saris with rich woven mundhi showing paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Silk

• Silk is a natural fiber that consists of fibroin, which is the protein some insects secrete to make cocoons.
• Essentially, the fiber is the material these insects produce to make their cocoons and nests.

Sericulture

• Sericulture, the production of raw silk by means of raising caterpillars (larvae), particularly those of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori).
• China is said to be the origin of sericulture. In India the cultivation dates back to 140 AD.
• India is the second-largest producer of silk in the world.

Types of Silk

• India produces all the four types of silk i.e.

1. Mulberry silk (91.7%);
2. Tasar silk (1.4%);
3. Eri silk (6.4%); and
4. Muga silk (.5%)

• Mulberry Silk –Mulberry silk is the softest and the most durable fabric.
• Eri Silk – Another name for eri silk is peace silk because its production does not include the killing of silkworms. It is heavier and more durable in comparison to mulberry silk.
• Tasar Silk – India and Japan produce this variety of silk. Green silkworms are the producer of Tasar silk.
• Spider Silk – It is the most expensive variety of silk. Manufacturers use spider silk to produce microscopes, bulletproof vests, etc.
• Muga Silk – The natives of Assam produce this variety of fabric using semi-domesticated muga silkworms.
• Sea Silk – Another name for sea silk is mussel silk since species of mussel of the Mediterranean Sea produce it.
• Coan Silk – Silkworms, which feed on oak, pine, and juniper.

Download PDF