Tracing origins of Kasaragod handlooms
Kasaragod's handlooms hum with a history that stretches back to the 18th century. Threads of migration wove the story of this craft. The Shaliya weavers, like threads themselves, journeyed from the East Karavali coast (of current Karnataka), leaving Tamil Nadu due to whispers of political and social unrest. Another thread, the Padmashaliyas, unfurled from Mysore, settling in present-day Kasaragod. Here, north of the Chandragiri River, Kannada, the language of their ancestors, became the tongue of the looms. In Kasaragod, the weavers are not just artisans, they are a living legacy of their ancestors, draped in the rich fabric of history.
Echoes of vibrancy
Unlike its flamboyant cousins from Balaramapuram, Kuthampally, and Chendamangalam, Kasaragod's sarees sing a simpler song. Their cotton bodies, adorned with stripes of dyed yarns, are canvases of quiet elegance. But don't be fooled by their apparent modesty. Kasaragod's true magic lies in its borders, hand-crafted using Jacquard or Dobby techniques. These intricate edgings transform the saree into a masterpiece, a testament to the weaver's artistry. Woven with high thread counts and vat dyes, Kasaragod sarees are built to last, their colours echoing the vibrancy of the land itself. In recent times, whispers of silk have begun to blend with the cotton, offering a luxurious twist to this timeless tradition. In 2010, the Kasaragod Sarees were granted the Geographical Indications (GI) Tag by the Government of India.
