Kalamkari literally translated from Persian means the art of drawing with a pen. The delicate floral,geometric motifs in natural dyes and subtly balanced aesthetics have made Kalamkari the most widely imitated style of Indian traditional textile craft.The Srikalahasti style of Kalamkari uses a Kalam (bamboo pen) for free hand drawing and filling in the colors, entirely by hand. This style flowered around temples and their patronage and so had an almost religious identity – scrolls, temple hangings, chariot banners, which depicted deities and scenes taken from Hindu epics – Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas and temple carvings in the region. Kalamkari authentically only uses natural dyes and involves about 20 steps of processing taking anywhere between 20-45 days for each piece.

Mamata Reddy - Founder