Weaves of India - Kanchi Kamakshi Silks

•

For Kanchi Kamakshi Silks an integral part of their brand identity is the pride in the art and diversity of handloom textiles. Mode conceptualised a brand building campaign titled ‘Weaves of India.’ A series of short films, photo essays and written pieces celebrating culture of handlooms in India.

Shot in six handloom epicentres—Pochampally, Banaras, Kanchipuram, Dharamvaram, Phulia, and Ponduru—the narrative explores the intricate relationships between weavers, their communities and their crafts.

BANARAS

A centuries-old royal-tradition still lives on and thrives today in the narrow streets of Banaras.

While the Banarasi saree and its designs have been spoken about, the innumerable artists and their workshops come together to capture the spirit of the collective effort needed to make a

Banarasi saree - an intricate beauty born of apparent chaos.

KANCHIPURAM

Kanchipuram often referred to as the town of 1000 temples, is a historic holy town in Tamilnadu. The intricate temple carvings are closely paralleled by the intricacy of the pure Kanchipuram silk saree. Weaving is passed down the generations here and the weavers are thought to be descendants of the great sage Markandya - the master weaver of the Gods. Our film explores the story of a master weaver, Sunderajan as he reminisces about this town’s history and tradition of weaving.

Pochampally Ikat

The journal of an Ikat begins with marking out the intricate design patterns across the threads of silk held by an Asu machine. The weavers tie and dip portions of silk into vats of different colours to coat different portions as per the design. Portions of the threads once dyed looks like a series of pixels which are then fed to the loom and design start to take shape. Pochampally is known for it’s intricate double-ikat, done along both the weft and the warp which doubles the complexity and the beauty.

Dharmavaram

Often confused with a Kanjeevaram saree, the Dharmavaram saree holds its distinctiveness in the vibrant colours and sophisticated designs. Many brides across India especially from south prefer Dharmavaram for their bridal ceremonies and rituals.