Now, for those who want to own a genuine handloom silk sari, can afford one if it costs Rs2000.
The weavers in Palakkad district of Kerala have started manufacturing silk saris in their looms.
According to Mr B Arul Selvan, Managing Director, Kerala State Handloom Development Corporation (Hanveev), weavers in Palakkad are being trained to manufacture 100 percent pure silk saris in handloom, that will soon flood the market.
Mr Selvan informed Fibre2fashion, “We have been manufacturing silk saris in the handloom since quite some time but now the Palakkad handloom weavers' cluster, under the Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Programme, plans to undertake the job on a wider commercial scale.”
“The Union Government has sanctioned Rs6 million as part of its cluster development initiatives, which will come in handy in Hanveev's efforts to help its silk project take wings,” stated Hanveev MD.
Silk saris manufactured by handlooms are available in plain and with tie and dye borders that are made in Coimbatore. “Our expert weavers in Palakkad who can knit exquisite saris in a traditional way, utilize silk yarn produced in our own state.
“Although there are around 200 expert weavers in Palakkad, we have engaged only 25 weavers for the time being to produce these saris and if we get a desired response from the market we will go in a commercial way. The best part is these saris can be purchased only for Rs2000 only.”
Hanveev also intends to expand the silk experiment to other apparel in the long run by producing silk shirts and silk tops for ladies.