Kalamkari Sarees – Drape the Saga of Richness and Class

Kalamkari now a famous art form primarily used in Sarees had a rather small beginning that actually originated in theater. It dates back to ancient times when the prime source of entertainment in villages were the passing troupes of musicians, singers and painters called Chitakattis who moved from one village to another telling stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata. They showcases their talent using large bolts of canvas that painted on the spot with rudimentary pens and dyes that were extracted from plants. However, kalamkari as an art form reached its peak when it enjoyed the benefaction of the rulers of the Golconda sultanate and the Mughals. Under their patronage, Andhra Pradesh became a hub of Kalamkari, and this ancient art skill was passed down from one generation to another.

There is something about this age-old kalamkari art that till date it dominates the realm of saree designs. The roots of this classic Indian art form have made firm grounds amongst the saree designers who are unceasingly trying their best at restoring the ancient art in the kalamkari sarees. Kalamkari sarees have its own kind of exclusivity and serenity to it, as it is a painstaking art of perfection. It is due to these reasons that kalamkari sarees have an extremely unique visual appeal because of the great detail used in the print. Hence, the kalamkari sarees are quite distinctive and easily identifiable in crowd. The kalamkari art designs are either printed or skillfully hand-painted in organic colors extracted from tree bark, flowers and plant roots.

Kalamkari sarees have been the quintessence of elegance in the Indian fashion industry. The motifs of kalamkari are dictated by figures of women and deities and the age-old traces of traditional organic colors can still be found in current-day designs. The kalamkari design looks impeccable on both silk and cotton fabric as it adds a more opulent aura to the print as well as the fabric. The kalamkari designs is mainly done with bright colors like red, maroon, orange, pink, navy blue and other bright colors. With the rise in popularity of the kalamkari art, the use of golden, copper, and silver threads were also started to make the work look more attractive and ravishing. The kalamkari sarees are attuned to all kinds of occasions and seasons round the year.