As the same suggests,‘Kalamkari’ means the art of hand painting on cloth using a pen. The art ofKalamkari is an ancient Indian art form that is still practised in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
It is said that the art of
As the same suggests,‘Kalamkari’ means the art of hand painting on cloth using a pen. The art ofKalamkari is an ancient Indian art form that is still practised in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
It is said that the art of Kalamkari or Kalampkaripaintings started a form of storytelling, where painters painted various mythological stories in ancient times. As time evolved, Kalamkari chitrakala found its way on canvases and cloth.Kalamkari painting goes back to 3000 BC, and samples depicting similar Kalamkari art forms were also found in archaeological finds in the ancient city of Mohen-jadaro.
Today, Kalamkari has found many admirers as the traditional art form has become a huge part of Indian fashion. Besides painting, Kalamkari art is now heavily influencing Indian fashion, as many small Indian brands understand the value in authentic Kalamkari art and use it to make fashionable clothing for today’s generation. Kalamkari artisans only use natural-vegetable dyes to paint which is distinctive of Kalamkari art. The end result is a fine hand-painted cloth that depicts nature, mythology and other motifs that depict Indian culture in subdued colours.
Making Kalamkari fabric is a tedious and meticulous process with 23 steps in total that involve cleaning, dyeing, bleaching, hand-painting, prepping handblocks, printing and many more. Popular motifs drawn in Kalamkari artworks depict flowers, peacocks, tree of life, forest and mythical creatures and characters from Hindu Mythology. Once the fabric is ready for painting after going through the elaborate process of dyeing etc. the artisan sketches patterns and motifs on the fabrics using a delicate tamarind twig that helps in painting minute details using natural colours.
You will see intricate paintings of Shri Khrishna Raas-Leela, Hindu Gods and Goddesses and many forest creatures such as peacocks, trees, birds, lotus motifs and paintings depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.
Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam are two distinct types of Kalamkari artwork. In Machilipatnam, the artisans use hand-carved wooden blocks to print the motifs onto the fabric and then fill in the minute details by hand. Srikalahasti Kalamkari is more freehand and is completely hand-painted. Srikalahasti Kalamkari mostly depicts religiously inspired stories on the fabrics and scenes from the Hindu mythology of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Srikalahasti Kalamkari is known to have a strong connection to the religious side of our culture as it is deeply rooted in the history of the temples in India.
Today, Kalamkari art holds a lot of cultural and historical significance. Not only does a Kalamkari fabric showcase our historical heritage, but it also makes its wearer feel proud of the years of rich history and culture that it depicts. A Pure hand-painted Kalamkari dupatta is a must-have for an Indian woman. Not only does it look beautiful, but it also helps you stand out from the crowd. iTokri houses Silk & cotton dupattas with Kalamkari block-prints of Machilipatnam & handpainted Kalamkari from Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh. We have an extensive collection of Kalamkari dupattas in fabrics such as chanderi silk, and cotton, which are infused with the latest motifs and patterns such as woven Ikat, Pedana Kalamkari hand block penwork and much more. You will find a wide variety of kalamkari silk dupattas online here at iTokri.
We have put together a range of beautiful hand painted dupattas to enhance the appeal of your traditional wardrobe:
This beautiful pen Kalamkari dupatta can be draped as a dupatta or even as a sarong while you are out and about at the beach. The traditional Kalamkari painting brings about the best in this dupatta.
This cotton block printed Kalamkari dupatta is super graceful and it will add an enchanting touch to any outfit that you plan to wear this with.
If you want to give a formal and ethnic spin to any traditional outfit of yours, this Kalamkari dupatta in silk is going to be an excellent addition to your collection. The alluring print will make it easy for you to team this up with anything.
The muted hues of this hand painted dupatta make this a brilliant choice for a plain coloured suit set. You can mix and match this with a suit of your choice, and take your outfit out for a spin as you go out for a laid back lunch with your friends.
When you buy Kalamkari dupattas online, you can adhere to the following steps, in order to properly care for them:
Here are some cool ways to style your kalamkari dupatta.
This is one of the classiest ways to wear your Kalamkari dupatta as it displays the pen work artistry very well. You can wear this style of drape with suits and lehengas alike and it can work both for formal and casual occasions.
Style your dupatta by tucking one side on the shoulder and then tying one corner of the dupatta on the other wrist. It creates a beautiful drape at the back and gives you a sense of control over it too. The tucking at the shoulder and wrist tuck makes the dupatta easy to wear while adding an extra charm to the outfit.
Wear your Kalamkari dupatta cape style, where you wear it over your shoulders and it falls freely on the sides. It is a fuss-free way of carrying a dupatta. You can style your dupattas as a cape over a lehenga or a sharara outfit.
This one’s for keeps and goes well with formal attire like a lehenga choli. Drape the dupatta on one shoulder and let it fall to the front. Take one corner of the dupatta from the front side and tuck it behind at the lehenga. This gorgeous drape will give a flowy look to your attire while making it look fresh and playful. Make sure to secure the dupattas behind with a pin.
iTokri houses India’s finest and most authentic handicraft artefacts and fabrics. All our products are directly sourced from master craftsmen and shipped to the customers to ensure that we provide the most authentic products. iTokri believes in building long-lasting and trusting relationships with its customers across the globe. Our vast collection of Indian crafts, clothing, jewelry and accessories is unmatched online. We are your one-stop-shop for dupattas, Indian fabrics, sarees, and Diwali gifts online. We take bulk orders too.
Kalamkari painting was born out of storytelling. In ancient times, people would go around telling mythological stories through song and dance. Kalamkari art is an extension of the same storytelling culture but through painting on canvas and fabrics.
The southern state of Andhra Pradesh is famous for Kalamkari handicrafts.
Original Kalamkari dupattas are hand-painted by artisans who have learnt the craft from their ancestors.
There are two types of Kalamkari paintingsSrikalahasti and Machilipatnam. Both styles are different from one another as they follow different painting styles. However, both styles are exquisite and are known for their intricate designs and motifs.
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