Kanchipuram silk sari

Weaving

The saris are woven from pure mulberry silk thread, with the silk and Zari sourced from South India. Three shuttles are used during weaving: the weaver works on the right side while an aide works on the left.

The border colour and design typically differ from the body. If the mundhi (hanging end) is a different shade, it is woven separately and joined to the sari, often marked by a zigzag line. The body and border are interlocked so strongly that the border will not detach even if the sari tears, distinguishing genuine Kanchipuram silk saris from others.

Design

Kanchipuram saris are distinguished by wide contrast borders, with traditional designs including temple borders, checks, stripes, and floral buttas. Patterns and designs are inspired by images and scriptures in South Indian temples, as well as natural features such as leaves, birds, and animals. Some saris feature rich woven mundhi depicting paintings by Raja Ravi Varma and scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Cost varies widely depending on intricacy of work, colours, pattern, and materials like zari.