Kalamkari

Kalamkari an ancient art of hand painting

What is kalamkari 

Kalamkari is an ancient art and style of hand or block printing on a piece of cotton or silk fabric made cloth. Kalamkari is an art performed in Iran and Indian states Andhra and Telangana. A pen made of temrind wood is used to perform this art with natural colors and dyes. Kalamkari word here refers to Kakam (pen) and kari (c raftmanship). The natural colors for this are made or prepared at home with natural organic colors.

Origion of Kalamkari Craft

Kalamkari art and craft was begin in some rural areas of Andhrapradesh as an household craft used to make sarees. In the later years it was moved from generation to generation with getting more imrovement and as skilled craft. Kalamkari became much popular when it turned to ancient hindu methology and after that during mughal era this craft approached to new heighs and got commercial approach both in domestic and international markets.

Types of Kalamkari

There are two unique and destentive styles of kalamkari art in India are known as srikalahasti in which kalam is used to perform the art and second machilipatanam in which block printing by natural organic colors.

Kalamkari craft includes flowers, birds, old houses , nature scenes and characters from mahabharat, ramayan and chalchitra. Kalamkari is done on cloth by making beautiful story telling scenes of pictures drawn in it.

How the Kalamkari printing is done 

Process to perfom this art is completed in 23 steps. The entire process involves fom bleaching the fabric by cow dung and flower leaves then soften it and drying in sun dry. The next step is to prepare natural dye colors . Entire process is done with hard hand working. Fabric is processed with buffallow milk and some other natural organic materials. It is washed again and again to make the fabric soft. Ultimately the fabric is dyed with the desired colors. Now it is ready to proceed for painting.

Modren Kalamkari

In the recent years as  the kalamkari has become much popular and commercial it has been got digital for the years. The blend of ancient art and modren fashion, exposure of ancient art in westren outfits gives new means to this craft. In the modren generation this art is being used in a variety of dressing wears as in suits, blouses, sarees, dupatta and home furnishing made ups.

Kalamkari art and craft now the days has become much popular among the modren generation with new styles and sence of dressing as the fashion designers turned this heritage craft by new looks. Kalamkari printing made ups are now available online can be bought globally.