VSAWS-11

Tamil Nadu Handloom

Mulberry Silk

Acid Dye

Hand Woven

Woven using mulberry silk in the town of Arani or Arni in the Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu, Arani silk sarees are traditionally single-coloured with simple body designs and a thin single-sided zari border. These originally dobby-woven sarees have since evolved to take on more complex patterns in their bodies and larger, contrasting borders on both sides. Today they may be identified by characteristics such as kottadi checks in the body or the half-and-half design in the body and pallu border motifs such as thazhampoo, peacocks, mangoes and paisleys and a rich colour palette, which includes reds, greens, blues, purples and yellows. Known for being light-weight, low-maintenance and durable, Arani sarees are worn on ceremonial and festive occasions. Arani silk sarees can be woven on both frame and pit looms, involving a labour intensive process of meticulously picking designs by hand. Before the weaving process, however, is the preparatory phase during which the yarn is first washed, then dyed in a bo

Handloom Mark, Silk Mark