Subdued Elegance of Kerala Cotton

By Ammini Ramachandran



India’s textile tradition is an elegant legacy perfectly preserved over thousands of years. Of all the arts and crafts of India, traditional handloom textiles are probably the oldest. Stretched across the country, each region in India has its own distinctive fabric and, a wide range of design and weaves particular to that region.

Mention Indian fabrics and the first image that comes to mind is that of textiles in a spectacular range of beautiful colors - Magnificent bright colored silks of Kancheepuram and Mysore, gadwals, ikkarts, patolas, jamdanis - the list goes on. In sharp contrast to this multihued collection, Kerala’s soft gossamer thin off white cottons laced with golden boarders and elegant designs stands apart as a symbol of graceful sophistication.

With demure unbleached off white fine cotton yarn Kerala weavers create fabrics of exquisite design and alluring beauty. The aesthetic sense of Kerala weavers lies in their mastery over the creation of designs. For the weavers of Kerala nature is an unending source of inspiration. The intricate designs on these fabrics reflect the designs found in nature – parrots, peacocks, lotus, leaves, and creepers as well as geometric designs. Depending on the intricacy of the designs, it often takes several days to finish weaving just one exquisite piece. And each piece is a unique expression of the artist’s talent. The weaver weaves with not just yarn but with sentiment and emotion. Some of the best quality fabrics use finely spun cotton of 200 counts for the warp and the weft. Today these fabrics are woven as saris, two-piece Kerala mundu, as material for popular salwar kammez and dresses, bedspreads, table cloths and napkins. ....more>

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