Chayilyam Runner

We always look for ways to be environment friendly and use natural materials as much as possible. With this spirit, we experimented with vegetable dyes. And here we are, with a mat dyed using natural colours extracted from plants. Though it takes an additional three days of processing, we feel it is worth the effort. We are confident, very soon, you will feel the same way. Chayilyam is the material used to give that mystic deep orange colour to the face painting in Theyyam and Kathakali art forms. Here, vegetable dyes are used to recreate that orange magic.   Story of Cora Grass and Mat weaving: Cora Grass is found along river banks and in marshy lands. It can grow up to a height of two meters. Family members of mat weavers collect these cora grass and bring it for processing. They cut each grass stem into four strands and remove the soft material at the centre. Before further processing, the grass is dried under the sun, till it develops a beige colour naturally. The grass is then dyed using different colouring materials and processes to match artists imagination. Sometimes, the colouring process takes days, depending on the shade of colour desired. The handcrafted mats are woven using hand operated looms. A set of  white yarns as the warp (length) and thin strands of cora grass as weft (width), are woven on a loom hand-operated by weavers. These looms do not use electricity. Human handling lends the mat a unique feel and more value. The resultant mat is softer, more durable and much more comfortable than machine-made mats. The cora grass strands are compacted by hand by the weavers, ensuring sturdiness to the mat. The art of hand weaving is labour intensive and takes a longer time. But, the beauty and quality it adds to the mat is priceless. Choosing handwoven mats  supports the rich weaving heritage of Killimangalam and lets the weavers carry on the precious art-form to the future generations as well.

Thechi Dupatta

“Thechi” flowers (Ixora flowers) adorn the walkway to our home; the bed of bright red flowers on either side of the walkway is an inviting sight. The beauty of ‘Thechi flower’ inspires us to add those bright red lines to the Dupatta. “Thechi” flowers are offered  during the worship of Goddess (Devi and Bhadrakali). We associate the strength of female deity to this piece of ethereal beauty. Let this piece of handloom make you stronger from inside and help you create a bright new world!   Story of Weaving: The handloom fabric is a type of fabric that is woven using hand operated looms. Two sets of interlacing yarns, the warp (length) and weft (width), are woven on a loom hand-operated by weavers. These looms do not use electricity. Human handling lends the fabrics a unique feel and renders the fabrics more value. The resultant fabric is softer, more durable and much more comfortable than machine-made fabrics. Handloom cotton is more breathable and thus feels lighter in summers and provides more insulation in winters. The dyeing process also becomes easier for handloom cotton as the colour penetration is substantially more. Hues are absorbed better thus look resplendent on handloom cotton. The art of hand weaving is labour intensive and takes a longer time. But, the beauty it adds to the fabric is priceless. Choosing handloom cotton supports the rich weaving heritage of India and lets the weavers carry on the precious art-form to the future generations as well.

Anamika Dupatta

Traditional designs stand out. Here is a Dupatta which exactly does that. We have lines, end to end, simple but elegant design, which has traditional roots. Weavers were delighted to weave it, though it meant frequent thread change. The lines are distinct as they are handwoven. We want to associate the Zebra traits of individualism, free spirit, and distinctiveness with this Dupatta. As we are still debating on what to call this Dupatta design, we named it “Anamika”,  one which does not have a specific name. Feel free to ascribe meaning to this Dupatta design as you adore it!!   Story of Weaving: The handloom fabric is a type of fabric that is woven using hand operated looms. Two sets of interlacing yarns, the warp (length) and weft (width), are woven on a loom hand-operated by weavers. These looms do not use electricity. Human handling lends the fabrics a unique feel and renders the fabrics more value. The resultant fabric is softer, more durable and much more comfortable than machine-made fabrics. Handloom cotton is more breathable and thus feels lighter in summers and provides more insulation in winters. The dyeing process also becomes easier for handloom cotton as the colour penetration is substantially more. Hues are absorbed better thus look resplendent on handloom cotton. The art of hand weaving is labour intensive and takes a longer time. But, the beauty it adds to the fabric is priceless. Choosing handloom cotton supports the rich weaving heritage of India and lets the weavers carry on the precious art-form to the future generations as well.