Chettinad Cotton

Chettinad cotton comes from the weaving villages around Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu, where the Chettiar merchant families kept looms busy for generations. The cloth is a thick, breathable handloom cotton, traditionally dyed in strong earth colours such as mustard, rust, maroon and black and then set against a contrasting border. That border is the signature: a wide band of gold zari filled with elephants, peacocks and the thoranam or temple triangle, motifs drawn straight from South Indian temple architecture. The checked and striped versions are worn every day, while a plain body with a heavy zari border is kept for festivals and weddings.

Woven in

Karaikudi and the Chettinad region, Tamil Nadu

Signature

Sturdy handloom cotton in bold contrast colours with a wide zari border of elephants, peacocks and temple triangles