Kalamkari Sarees

Kalamkari sarees are a sort of traditional hand-painted or block-printed sarees that have their roots in the ancient art of Kalamkari, which means "pen work" in Persian. The exquisite hand-painted or block-printed motifs of kalamkari art are created using natural dyes on cloth, and it has its roots in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The most common materials used to create kalamkari sarees are cotton or silk. From the initial preparation of the fabric to the final painting or printing of the intricate designs, the making of Kalamkari sarees includes several steps.

There are two primary designs for Kalamkari sarees:

1. Srikalahasti fashion: Sarees are hand-painted in this design using a pen-like utensil called a kalam to create delicate lines and detailed patterns. To produce brilliant colours, the artists employ natural dyes obtained from plants and minerals. On Srikalahasti-style Kalamkari sarees, beautiful floral patterns, epic scenes, and mythical tales are frequently depicted in the motifs.

2. Machilipatnam style: Also known as the block-printed Kalamkari, this style involves using carved wooden blocks to print the designs on the fabric. The blocks are dipped in natural dyes and pressed onto the fabric to create repetitive patterns. Machilipatnam-style Kalamkari sarees often feature motifs like flowers, birds, and geometric patterns.