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“The name 'paisley' is not an international name for the pattern, it iscalled palme in France, bota in Netherlands, bootar in India and peizuliin Japan.”

About the Kota Doria  Often regarded the finest amongst the gossamer textiles and sarees of India, the Masuria Malmal or Kota Doria  is recognized by it’s graph like geometric pattern called “khats”. Woven in pure cotton and silk in different densities, the saree is much loved and treasured for it’s lightness that retains a very versatile grandeur.   It’s origin as a craft are shrouded in mystery and there are several myths all handed down from generation to genertation.  One theory is that the word “Masuria” part of the local lexicon of the Kota saree attributes it’s name to its origin – the erstwhile Kingdom state of Mysore, while other’s believe that it is a tribute to the use of...

The word Ajrakh is derived from the word azurakh, meaning blue in Persian. The blue in the patterns symbolize the sky, the red the twilight and the night is represented by black. The white designs strewn across the fabric are reminiscent of the eternal light of the stars.

The Greeks called this blue pigment ‘indikon’, meaning a product from India, and this word became indigo in English. Another ancient term for the dye is ‘nili’ from the Sanskrit meaning dark blue from which the Arabic term for blue ‘al-nil’ is derived. This word entered Spanish as anil and later made its way to Central and South America where it is used to refer to indigo.

India is the only country that is home to four different silk varieties: Mulberry silk (Bombyx mori), Eri silk (Philosomia ricini), wild Tussar silk (Antheraea mylitta) and the exclusive wild golden Muga silk (Antheraea assama).  Of these Karnataka played a pivotal role historically in the development of mulberry silk and subsequently silk sarees that are particular to both it’s geography and culture.   HISTORY OF SILK IN KARNATAKA  Although silk first finds mention during the Vedic period, dating back to about 5000 BC, when silk and silk garments were known to Indians. (In the Mahabharatha, there is vivid description about silk and silk garments. Lord Krishna was described as always clad in Kashi Pitambara (silk of Banaras, West Bengal).There are...