India is one of the world’s developing countries, with much of its people still living in rural areas. Agriculture may be the main source of employment for the people living in the rural areas, providing for at least 70 percent of work, but another source that provides Kanchipuram sarees online employment would be in the handloom industry.
It is considered to be one of the most important in the cottage industry. About 72 percent in India are engaged in cotton weaving, 16 percent for silk, and the rest are in art silk. Although this is one of the popular industries in India, the process can be very labor-intensive.
One of the most popular products in the pure silk handloom industry, sarees, is manufactured in the city of Kanchipuram. They are even called Kanchipuram sarees because of their uniqueness.
Artisans reject the idea of using new technology in making silk, that they would not even use modern tools and equipment and even new techniques in making them. The reason is that modernizing the industry might make the rich tradition of making this silk disappear forever.
Weavers may also lose livelihoods as fewer people would be used because modern tools and equipment require less manpower. Weavers are also conscious about the quality of the fabric, so that is why people value the sarees made in Kanchipuram.
Although modernization in production is not welcomed, the distribution of the product has embraced it. Now you can buy Kanchipuram sarees online.
Kanchipuram has about 60,000 silk weavers, with 50,000 thousand of them working together under a cooperative. The cooperative associations ensure that employment, fixed wages, and government schemes are served and followed through.
History of the Kanchipuram Sarees
Sarees can be traced back to the civilization in the valley of Indus in 2800-1800 BCE North-West of India. Worn by women as a seamless garment, this simple clothing piece symbolizes India’s femininity.
You can say that this garment is one of the oldest globally and is still surviving to this day. It has even entered the world of fashion.
Kanchipuram, or as other people like to call it, the “City of Silk” or the “City of 1000 Temples”, is popular for its hand-woven silk sarees and is one of India’s sacred cities because of the 1000 temples located in it.
Kanchipuram silk sarees also have ties with the mythology of Hindu. Kanchi weavers are said to be descendants of the Sage Marakanda, the gods master weaver, who wove tissues from lotus fiber. While Lord Shiva prefers cotton, Lord Vishnu favored silk.
Design of Kanchipuram Sarees
The images and scriptures in the unique design and patterns in Kachipuraam sarees are inspired by South India’s temples or from nature like birds, leaves, or animals. That is why you often see temple borders, stripes and check in them.
Kanchipuram sarees can vary on how much they cost because they depend on how complex the work, patterns, colors, and materials are when making them.
Weavers are also known for only using quality silk and are famous for their craftsmanship which is why Kanchipuram sarees are well known for their name. You may be paying more, but the quality you get is very assured.
Genuine Kanchipuram silk sarees have their body and border separately woven before getting interlocked together. The joint is strongly woven that even if your sarees begin to tear, its border will not come off. This is also one of the unique differences you can only find in Kanchipuram silk sarees.
The significance of Kanchipuram Sarees.
Kanchipuram sarees woven with gold cloth and heavy silk are special and are mainly worn on different occasions like weddings or festivities. That many people come to Kanchipuram to buy a unique design of silk sarees.
Because it is the weavers’ land, a person can easily go to other stores if they have a particular design or pattern that they want. There is no shortage of sarees in Kanchipuram that you can be sure of.
Shopkeepers will even show a 100-piece design if you are having a hard time looking for the perfect style on a certain occasion. Since the year 2005, India’s Government has officially recognized Kanchipuram sarees as a Geographical Indication, ever since Tamil Nadu’s Government applied for it in the same year.
Kanchipuram sarees have become one of India’s most recognized names in the world of the woven fabric. If you want, you can buy Kanchipuram sarees online with no problem. Remember, if you want to have unique sarees, Kanchipuram sarees are your best choice.
