Range of Handloom Fabrics

SHRADDHA-a non-profit organisation

Range of Handloom Fabrics

Handloom relates to a wide range of products

  • Variations arise out of the diverse weaving and dyeing techniques, motifs, color, designs as well as use.
  • The scheduled tribe weave products on narrow width loin looms with typical motifs and designs.
  • Extracts of bark, root, flower was being used as the dyeing martials, which is known as the vegetable dyeing. Notwithstanding synthetic chemical dyes taking over dyeing, vegetable dyes has its own buyers and fetches a premium price.
  • Further the agile, imaginative and creative mind of the weavers spring up surprises with products made by minor changes on the loom making every product different form the other, which is the major strength of handloom.
  • “Saree”, the traditional women wear is by far the most common and tops the list of handloom fabrics
  • Some of the other products include
    • “Scarves” the other popular lady’s garment
    • “Dress materials” in form of yardage, which is sewn for making apparel and garments for men and women
    • “Calligraphy and Wall hangings” done with excellent skill are by far the most artistic and colorful
    • “Wide loom products like, Furnishing material, double bedsheets”

Fabrics with tribal design
“Dongoria Kandha”

Weaving fabrics narrow-width fabrics on loin looms is an integral part of the tribal culture and tradition.

  • Each tribe has its unique motifs, and design, woven with cotton yarn dyed in vibrant color with natural dye.
  • Each tribal house has a loom, and the product is used for domestic use.
  • The tribal weave has a niche market among the fashion lovers and fetches premium price.
  • Some of the tribal motifs and designs are being replicated and getting commercialized.

“Dongria”, a primitive tribe of Malkangiri, Koraput district of Odisha.

This design got Geo indicator tagging in 2023.

  • Woven using cotton yarn with typical designs.
  • Shawls woven with vibrant color; hand embroidered with multicolored threads are beautifully.
  • The unique Dongoria design was developed into saree successfully by Weavers’ Service Centre, Bhubaneswar.
  • This is being produced on a commercial scale by the weavers of Nuapatna, Cuttack district.

Fabrics woven with
“Natural dye”

“Mirgan” tribal community of “Kotpad” village in Koraput district, Odisha. Is well known for using vegetable dye

  • Cotton yarn is dyed with extracts from the bark of roots of the “Aal” tree, which gives it a unique reddish color.
  • Traditionally coarse count cotton saree were woven in pit looms using this vegetable dyed yarn.
  • Motifs drawn from nature, common one’s crab, conch, boat, axes, fan, bow, temple, pots, snakes, palanquin bearers, and huts.

The product got diversified with fine count cotton and silk yarn for weaving saree, shawls stoles, and dress material,

The major challenge in promotion of vegetable dye is the availability of raw materials in the nature.

Availability has been dwindling with denudation=n of forest,

The state government has taken up plantation of Aal trees for
overcoming this problem.

 

Saree of Mayurbhanj

“Santali” tribal community of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha weave a type of saree using a distinct technique and design.

  • The motifs and design are inspired from nature. Traditional motifs inspired by nature typical to tribal – such as geometric buti, flower, birds, deer etc.
  • Woven with extra weft technique in Phuta/Phod.
  • Woven extra weft, rib design with solid effect.
  • check sarees involve intricate thread work on the border and the pallu.

Weaving material and designs diversified to fine count cotton and silk.

Product diversified to dress material and stole.

Stole and Scarf

  • a very popular handloom fabrics of Odisha
  • Woven in silk with bandh (tie & dye) technique on the weft
  • Motif design draws inspiration from nature and traditiona
  • Size 0.57mtrs x 2.28 mtr
  • Inspirations from Kotpad design
  • Ghicha silk and cotton
  • Body extra weft
  • Border coarse cotton warp and gucha silk on weft
  • Motif tribal

Furnishing Material, Double Bedsheets

  • Fabrics are woven with design on broad looms for use as furnishing martials and double bedsheets and bed covers.
  • These looms are woven by two weavers.

“Calligraphy”

  • Calligraphy or writings on fabrics,
  • Most artistic and colorful handloom fabrics
  • done by weaving with Tie and dye( Bandha) technique
  • One of the purest and most intricate part of handloom.
  • Has its origin in the “Gita Govind” {songs in honour of Lord Govind ( Krishna)} penned by Jayadev, 12th Century eminent poet of Odisha.
  • Usually done in silk, also in cotton
  • Diversified into saree and dress material
  • Creation of superb craftsmanship done with great devotion and dedication.

(Pic: Shri Sarat Patra of Nuapatana with his masterpiece “GitaGovind”)

Wall Hangings on Lord Krishna

Gift item & Wall hangings

Lord Jaganath of Puri, Odisha

Maa Samaleswari of Sambalpur, Odisha