Kalamkari is an intricate process of hand-painting and block printing on the saree that significantly raises the appeal of the fabric. An ethnic art from the State of Andhra Pradesh, India, it has been tried successfully on different fabrics and styles, from other parts of the country as well, yielding stupendous results.
Kalamkari, meaning craftsmanship through the use of a pen, is an ethnic art involving hand-painting or block printing on Sarees. The Kalamkari was originally hand-painting on cotton fabrics to elevate their looks. Today it loosely includes free hand-painting on any cotton fabric through the use of vegetable dyes. Once, only cotton fabrics had kalamkari done on them. Today it includes silk, and many other synthetic yarns too.
Two styles namely – the Machilipatnam style and the Srikalahasti style are still prevalent in Andhra Pradesh, in places by these names.
Both styles of Kalamkari are distinctive and enjoy their own following. Kalamkari painting is an arduous process of dyeing and hand printing. Several stages of washing and treatment to the fabric prior to the painting and after it, is undergone before the final product is ready.
Srikalahasti Style, having royal patronage of Hindu kings and being associated with temples, was influenced by Hindu scriptures and mythology. It mostly has subjects of Gods, temple hangings, epic scenes and other religious themes, in its ‘Kalamkari’. Certain marked features of this style are simplicity, good use of colour with some colours given prominence, sharpness in the depictions, and the use of motifs.
The Machilipatnam style having Islamic influence uses more of flora and fauna as themes in its work.
Natural dyes are employed for colours, in Kalamkari, with cotton, silk, crepe, georgette being the usual fabrics as canvas for this art. Myrobalan along with buffalo milk is used for fixing of colour reagents. Myrobalan is preferred for its high tannin content which helps adhesion. For drawing the contours and fine lines, the Kalam or pen is used. Sometimes it is also for doing the coloured lines. The pen could be a bamboo piece that would be dipped in fermented jaggery.
Kalamkari is experimented as patch work on other fabrics in various colour combinations. Motifs are some of the popular subjects like trees, creepers, flowers, leaves and birds.
Some Kalamkari creations, that have been introduced in the market, have been received enthusiastically, encouraging more innovations to follow.
Fancy kalamkari prints on South Pure Cotton Sarees offer a refreshing look and could be used for a variety of occasions.
Employed on the Chanderi Silk Sarees, the Kalamkari addition makes it look so grand, that it makes the Saree apt for weddings, as bridal attire, corporate wear, as also for Indian festivals like Sankranthi, Diwali, Dushera, Pongal etc.
Designer embroidered Sico sarees having a Kalamkari Patch border with an elegant pallu to match, are most suitable for parties and functions.
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Unnati has a unique range of fusion salwar kameez where trending designs, patterns and colors have been incorporated in traditional styles of fabric manufacturers, and available in retail and wholesale. You can purchase online at Unnati silks and the products will be dispatched within 24 working hours of placing the order. We have free shipping and Cash on Delivery (COD) facility for Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ernakulum, Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Patna, Jaipur and many other Indian cities.We also do Worldwide express shipping to countries like Australia, United States Of America(USA), United Kingdom (UK), United Arab Emirates(UAE), Australia, United States of America (USA), Adelaide, Black Town, Brisbane, Gold coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Barking, Birmingham, Leicester, London, Manchester, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, South America, Sri Lanka and Sweden.
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UNNATI SILK PRINTS PVT. LTD, #3-4-360, Vajra Complex, General Bazar (Tobacco Bazar), M.G.Road, Hyderabad-500003.AP,India. 040-64555251 or 97000 57744.
