Handloom saree

Handloom sarees are a traditional textile art of Bangladesh and India. The production of handloom sarees are important for economic development in rural India. Completion of a single saree takes two to three days of work. Several regions have their own traditions of handloom sarees.

As per 2010 census 44 lakhs of families are engaged in hand weaving. In 2011-12, the handloom industry wove 6900 million square metres of cloth. Andhra Pradesh is said to be the home of 3, 59,212 weaver families who all works in primary co operative handloom societies. Primary Handloom Weavers Co operative’s (PHWCS) includes weavers within certain specific geographical limits and provides production work to the members. The co operatives also see that the weavers receive fare Wage and at the same time conduct various Welfare measures.

A handloom saree is often woven on a shuttle-pit loom made from ropes, wooden beams and poles. The shuttle is thrown from side-to-side by the weaver. Other weavers use a fly-shuttle loom which can produce different types of patterns. The sarees can vary in size and quality.

Generally handloom saree weaving is a family enterprise and one of India's cottage industries. The handloom sarees are made from silk or cotton threads. Traditionally all the process of thread dyeing and warping were outsourced and sizing, attaching the warp, weft winding and Weaving were done by the weavers. It is important to understand the complex process that plays a major role behind in weaving handloom sarees and the final product which we get to buy from shops. but with time the scenario has changed. Most of the activities are now outsourced.

Weaving takes place in many regions of India. Each region has tradition designs for the motifs, design and colours. Handloom weaving takes place in villages supporting lakhs of families for their Livelihood.

Some of the well known Indian Handloom Sarees are Kanchepuram Silk Sarees, Maheshwari Saree, Bagh Print Saree, Chanderi Silk Sarees, Tussar silk saree, Banarasi Silk Saree, Baluchuri Sarees, Sambalpuri Sarees, Kantha stitch Sarees, Bhadhini Sarees and Munga Sarees. Handloom sarees are made out of good quality silks to give it a lustrous look.

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