the craft
Kalamkari Kanchipuram
Kalamkari is a centuries old hand painting art from Andhra Pradesh, most famously from Srikalahasti, where every motif is drawn freehand with a bamboo pen called a kalam and set with natural dyes. Scenes from mythology, temples, peacocks and lotuses are painted onto silk over many patient days. A wearable work of art, treasured for festivals, weddings and special occasions.
- Woven in
- Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh
- Signature
- Freehand pen (kalam) hand-painting with natural dyes; mythological, temple, peacock and floral motifs
Kalamkari Kanchipuram pieces
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How to tell a real Kalamkari Kanchipuram
Ours are hand painted, not printed. Every motif is drawn freehand with a bamboo pen called a kalam and coloured with natural dyes, which takes many days for a single saree.
That is also how you tell. On a hand-painted piece no two motifs are ever identical. Look at a row of peacocks or lotuses and you will find small differences in the line, the fill and the spacing. A block or screen print repeats exactly, every time, and the edges are uniform. Natural dyes also age into softer, deeper tones rather than staying flat.
The base is Kanchipuram silk, so the silk carries all the Kanchipuram hallmarks as well.
Wearing it
A hand-painted saree is the whole outfit. The painting should lead, so a plain blouse in a colour lifted from the painting keeps the attention where it belongs, and heavy jewellery competes with it.
These are usually worn to festivals, temple occasions and weddings where the piece is meant to be looked at closely, because the detail rewards it.
Looking after it
Dry clean only. Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture to protect the hand painted natural dyes.
Questions
- Is the painting done by hand or printed?
- Hand painted, motif by motif, with a kalam pen and natural dyes.
- Will two sarees ever look the same?
- No. Because every motif is drawn freehand, each saree is genuinely one of a kind, even within the same design.
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