HANDBLOCK MACHILIPATNAM KALAMKARI COTTON SAREE

An ancient Indian art which is believed to have originated about 3000 years ago and literally meaning  Pen-Work, Kalamkari is the manifestation of the art of story telling on fabric. Having come into existence as a religious tapsetry, the Kalamkari fabric was used as a supplement to mural paintings around the sanctum and corridors of the temples. With time the Kalamkari art developed into two distinct styles, the Srikalahasti style and Machilipatnam style named after the town they were practised and produced in. Owing to high demand and commercialisation, the Machilipatnam style developed into Kalamkari where the motifs are essentially printed with hand-carved traditional blocks with intricate detailing painted by hands. When you own this, you not only own a neevi, but also an art which involves 23 natural processes in its making.