Beat the heat with summer handlooms

FT NEWS

Come summer, and literally like shedding skin, we drop the weight off our shoulders of heavy woolies and embrace the lightness of cotton. Thanks to #vocalforlocal and #handmadeinindia sentiments, summer fabrics of choice for this year are likely to be more Indian weaves, handlooms and a lot more conscious and it’s more than just cotton.

Cotton is the only fabric that comes to mind when one thinks of Indian summer, but it’s the lighter variants like mul, poplin, fine khadi and Kota Doria. In fact, Kota doria is on a revival of sorts with more people discovering this light airy cotton. Kota Doria has always been perfect for Indian summer. Our mothers have worn kota saris. We see it coming in more in mainstream fashion with a lot more designers using it for ready to wear. Thanks to being lightweight and airy, it’s becoming a summer favourite. Traditionally, the Kota doria fabric was handwoven on pit looms using cotton and silk yarns to result in a unique chequered pattern. Textile history has it that the weave originated in Mysore and was patronised by Maharao Singh Kishore, the ruler of Kota in Rajasthan. Pockets of weavers in Karnataka and Kaithoon, situated near Kota, in Rajasthan, follow the handloom method.

The focus is shifting towards traditional fabric, Kota doria has the potential to be the fabric of summer 21-22. Based on the availability of a wide variety of work like digital, embroidery, bagru, ajrakh, block, madhubani etc. on Kota doria and its affordability make it easier for it to be popular.

Choose handlooms

Breathable fabrics that can be worn for a longer time are becoming natural choices. We see a very evident change in what is considered fashionable and trendy. Many feel that handlooms are difficult to maintain but that’s not the case. You do need to be careful in some of the procedures you follow at home. As these fabrics are extremely delicate and easily susceptible to environmental corrosion, staining and wear and tear. Handlooms carry the emotions of the weaver inside each warp and weft and hence, are more special.

Your Message

Click here to post a Enquiry

Advertisement