Kalamkari – exquisite prints from elementary hand techniques

Kalamkari or Qalamkari is hand painted or block printed textile. It is derived from the Persian ‘drawing with a pen’. There are two styles in India. The Srikalahasthi style which is based on themes of religious hangings, temple engravings, scrolls, deities, scenes from epics etc. based on the influence of Hindu rulers of the Malla dynasty. The Machilipatnam style based on Islam influence of the Mughals and evolved with themes of flora, fauna and nature chosen.

The essential features of Kalamkari

Using Natural dyes mostly, hand block printing is used for the printing of the fabric and the pen used for the finer details and inner filling of colours.

The elaborate process of Kalamkari

The initial weaving of the fabric completed, is when the Kalamkari process takes over. The cotton fabric is immersed in a fine mix of myrobalan ( a resin) and cow’s milk to provide the adhesion of colours. By soaking it for an hour a unique gloss is achieved. It is after this that the finer lines and details are drawn with a bamboo stick styled like a pen soaked in fermented jiggery and water. After this the vegetable dyes are applied. The application of each colour done, the fabric is washed. This leads to the fabric being washed a number of times to see that the colours have adhered and do not spread.

For extra colouring effects substances like cow dung, seeds, crushed flowers and plants are also used. The richness of the colours and the use of natural dyes has slowly given way to lesser vibrancy on account of the use of chemical dyes which are easily and abundantly available.

Buy online Kalamkari sarees at Unnati Silks

There is a fine collection of Kalamkari work sarees at Unnati Silks. You have Chanderi Sicos in light colours and breezy hues with floral patterns and attractive bootis, the elegant contrast borders with floral kalamkari and the designer pallus with brilliant floral patterns. There are handloom cottons with a lot of Kalamkari hand painting and attractive borders. There are fine Tussar Silks that have contrast patch borders plus block printed designs and floral spreads on the pallu. You have Kalamaris that have entire themes from epics, nature scenes in fine, sharp detailing that is exquisite. The Meghalaya Silks that have charming motifs distributed in a pattern across the saree over light coloured fields, geometrical patterns adorning colourful fields, motfs in a pattern across the saree, and very elegant borders.

Buy online Kalamkari work sarees and get the Unnati advantage

Unnati silks, largest ethnic online Indian shop offers exquisite designer Kalamkari work sarees with matching blouse for sale.

Online shopping store with the widest range of ethnic Indian Sarees and Salwar Kameez. At Unnati Silks, you can buy Kalamkari work sari online from the exclusive range of saris - a unique, fancy, exclusive collection of Traditional, Wedding, bridal attire, stylish, party, trendy fashion, formal, corporate, office, daily casual saris in silk, cotton, sico, art silk georgette, chiffon, dupion, tussar, organza, crepe, gicha, jute and other fabric varieties at attractive prices. You can buy Kalamkari sarees online at Unnati silks and products will be dispatched within 24 working hours of placing the order. We have free shipping and Cash on Delivery (COD) facility for Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bhopal, Indore, Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Dispur, Itanagar, Kohima, Chandigarh , Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jullundur, Ernakulam and many other Indian cities and towns. We also do Worldwide fast shipping or express shipping to countries like UK, Canada, USA, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Seychelles, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar, Mauritius, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and many more.

Contact: 

Unnati Silks Prints Pvt.Ltd

# 3-4-360, Oils Complex, 

General Bazar (Tobacco Bazar), 

MGRoad, 

Hyderabad-500 003. 

AP, India.