• Kannada Rajyotsava • Kasuti • Molakalmuru • Handwoven • Hand Embroidery • Heirloom Silks • . . That's a #Green again for work. This is my favourite #saree for this season. Every year around this time I wear this saree. It's the Karnataka Rajyotsava Season!! . . While before this I thought that most silks in this style are Kanjeevarams, few years back some saree aficionado friend told me that this is a #Molakalmuru Saree. Molakalmuru is a place in Chitradurga District of Karnataka, and this variety of saree is woven there. . . This saree is a heirloom handed down by my Mother, and must be over 40yrs old. About 15 years back when I got this saree reinvented with this beautiful #Kasuti work. This style of #embroidery is an age-old art practiced in North #Karnataka. The intricate traditional handwork are made using cotton threads, with traditional patterns and elements. These Elephants are my favourite on this saree, on which I see the #Mysuru Dasara influence. Being a true-blue Kodava-Kannadiga - Aaneya mele Ambaari ( meaning: the seat on the elephant) is what comes to my mind. . . Today there is an eye-sore collection of machine embroidered Kasuti. Wish we would never give in to such spurious practices but appreciate and buy and sustain our beautiful existing art. There is usually a huge argument on affordability, and original artwork being expensive. It takes a huge heart to afford and appreciate originality. And we need to remember that in many cases it puts food on someone's plate and gives shelter to the skilled hands, and it sustains the art and skills that will eventually die out if there are less takers. It's definitely yours and my responsibility to preserve indigenous practices, in whatever way we can!!! . . While we embrace branded clothing that comes with big designer labels and tags, it goes a long way to identify and buy our very own indigenous art and clothes, and appreciate them. While I have always been inclined towards such apparels, now thanks to my huge tribe of #sareesisters with whom I get to identify and learn more about textiles and apparels, making my journey of clothing even more fulfilling and sustainable. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4SEHHCphkK/?igshid=wbml8wkpcgi
