The art of kalamkari took a southern flavor when the artists of sikkilnaickenpet made the temple wall hangings, thombais (used in temple...

“The word is sacred. Sacred is the word” – “Sada sowbhagvathi bhava” Saw a fantastic bridal heirloom Paithani saree at the Prince of...

You thought croptops were the fashion of today? By 1930’s the royal household women of Baroda wore this sleeveless waistcoat richly...

The famous Kodalikaruppur Sarees from Tamilnadu Tanjore Painting original from Madras Museum – The Tanjore king Sivaji and his wife...

Malabar was a province of Madras State – and had 3 districts Palghat, Calicut and Cannanore. The Basel Evangelical Mission, a religious...

Motifs offer a new dimension to the visual appeal of a traditional sari, upholding a unique creative expression within the craft. Plant...

Indian jewellery is as old as civilisation itself. Excavations of the ancient Indus Valley civilisation, in fact, yielded examples of...

The weavers of Tamil Nadu possess a skillful mastery over the weaving of checks and stripes. The simple concept of checks and stripes has...

Over the centuries, a range of several patterns has become characteristic of kanjivaram sari designs. These motifs and patterns were not...

The history of the colours of the kanjivaram sari is carved out of a lifelong fascination with South India’s traditions and social norms....

In this edition of Varna Sutra, we turn to the colour of infinity, a symbol of vastness: the universally loved shades of blue...

The kanjivaram is made only more beautiful by the rich symbolism woven into its drape, which is in itself aesthetically lovely. Just as...

South India has one of the finest textile traditions, one that combines the skill of master craftsmen with elements of design, colour and...

India has always been a country of colour; from the vibrant hues of our market places and the diverse palettes of our natural landscapes,...

The British Museum website has a document from 1730 listing the range of textiles or the “piece goods” purchased in Bengal by the...

The art of textiles designs flourished only because of royals and temples.There is a whole lot of oral heritage lying undocumented in the...

A layer of canvas, Gada cloth goes in to the inner and outer lining. Finally a pure white jacquard layer finishes the look inside the...

The umbrella is a traditional Indian symbol of royalty of protection. The greater the number of umbrellas, the higher the royalty’s rank,...

Charles Babbage had a new exhibit in his gallery. An unassuming portrait of an inventor in his workshop, sitting in a luxurious chair,...

The two main distinct yet important weaving clusters are Sambalpur and Nuapatna. The migratory Bhulia weavers (Mehers) are in Sambalphur...