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.