Mankolam
MR21027
Kanchipuram silk with zari booti
Spoken for
Mankolam is the term for mango motif used in Kanchipuram textiles. In this dupatta, Mankolam is woven using fine Zari into the mulberry silk threads.
The Kanchipuram weaving skill amaze me when the weaver and his partner co-create this meticulous piece of craft in a unison. The way to tell apart a genuine Kanchipuram to a fake one is to look at the border and pallu.
In Kanchipuram saris, the main body, pallu and border are woven separately if they are required to be of different colours. These separate elements are delicately interlocked through a criss-cross stitch called Korvai at the joints. The mark of authenticity of Kanchipuram is these very joins. They are believed to be very sturdy joins that are hard to rip even when the sari has lived many years and is beginning to give away.
The wonders of mastery of craft.
The Kanchipuram weaving skill amaze me when the weaver and his partner co-create this meticulous piece of craft in a unison. The way to tell apart a genuine Kanchipuram to a fake one is to look at the border and pallu.
In Kanchipuram saris, the main body, pallu and border are woven separately if they are required to be of different colours. These separate elements are delicately interlocked through a criss-cross stitch called Korvai at the joints. The mark of authenticity of Kanchipuram is these very joins. They are believed to be very sturdy joins that are hard to rip even when the sari has lived many years and is beginning to give away.
The wonders of mastery of craft.
Buyer Empowerments
Intrinsic
Value
Value
Silk with zari stitched together as a patch. Involves traditional silk mark approved handloom weaving of Kanchipuram.
Creative
Aspect
Aspect
Emergence of colours, textures and form in this dupatta where commercial silk industry’s fabric remains has been creatively up-cycled.
Helf-Feel
Light
Weather/
Mood
Pleasant for cooler weather, just like any other mulberry silk
Longevity
Not fragile
Care
Dry Clean only; Needs “Airing” in shadow, not direct sun. One may want to be more gentle with the woven zari threads. It is also good to keep changing the folds every few months.
State
Ready to wear
Soul
Silk fabrics are all sourced from Khadi silk manufacturers whose business model wouldn’t allow use of small cut pieces and hence would discard huge quantities. The fabrics are all pure silk, however nature of dye source is unknown. These remains are called “waste, reject or injured saris”
Concerns
Addressed
Addressed
Fabric scrap Up-cycling to reduce textile waste
Drape
Formal, Elegant, intentional statement, traditional, Dressy without being loud.
Stitched by Gurmel Singh, Jalalabad, Punjab.
Beadwork: Param, Bathinda, Punjab.
Beadwork: Param, Bathinda, Punjab.
Disclaimer:
Imperfections in the weaves reflect handmade
Irregularity in the dyes reflect natural process
Innocent spots in the textiles reflect being homemade
A work of nature cannot be sterile and error-free
A choice to still buy what we make is a step
Towards supporting original culture
Of people
Of nature
Of craft
A celebration of humanness.
Imperfections in the weaves reflect handmade
Irregularity in the dyes reflect natural process
Innocent spots in the textiles reflect being homemade
A work of nature cannot be sterile and error-free
A choice to still buy what we make is a step
Towards supporting original culture
Of people
Of nature
Of craft
A celebration of humanness.
Mora Collective 2025
designed by: MIDTOAN