Location and Introduction about Pochampally sarees
Pochampally saree or Pochampalli ikat is a type of saree made in Bhoodan Pochampally, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, Telangana State, India. Pochampally saree are prepared using traditional geometric patterns in the “Paagadu Bandhu” (Ikat) style of dyeing. Pochampally sarees are well known for their typical geometric patterns and the special Ikat style of dyeing. Once upon a time, during the 1990s, the Indian government’s official airplane company, Air India, has its cabin crew wear specially designed Pochampally silk sarees.
Pochampally Ikat sarees manufacturing is the registered property of Pochampally Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society Ltd and the Pochampally Handloom Tie and Dye Silk Sarees Manufacturers Association. In the year 2005, the Pochampally saree received Intellectual Property Rights Protection or Geographical Indication (GI) status. It has helped to even increase its popularity and sales.
History of Pochampally sarees
Telangana Region can be considered one of the ancient Ikat weaving centers in India, along with other states like Gujarat and neighboring Odisha. In ancient times, the weaving centers were located in the Chirala and Jentrpeta towns situated between Vijayawada and Chennai. Locally, Pochampally Ikat is also known as Paagadu Bandhu and Chitki in Telangana. In other parts of India, it is popularly known as Pochampally, named after one of the villages where it is produced.
Pochampally sarees have their own unique pattern of design, different from other Ikat-producing areas in India. Presently, most of the weaving takes place in Pochampally village. Over five thousand looms producing this textile are present. Pochampally village is listed as one of the world heritage sites as part of the “iconic saree weaving clusters of India” by UNESCO. The handkerchiefs made of silk thread are also known as “Teli Rumals”
Specialty and characteristics of Pochampally sarees
The Pochampally Ikat sarees are prepared using extremely complicated designs using bright dyes which is their specialty of them. Natural fabrics are used to make Pochampally sarees like cotton, silk, and sico (a combination of silk and cotton). Pochampally sarees take a considerable amount of time their weave and the painstaking effort of the weaver. It makes it apart from the other sarees and makes it stand out from the textile industry.
The weaving of Pochampally silk sarees is made easy through the invention of the weaving machine. A class 6 school dropout from Telangana named Chintakindi Mallesham has innovated the Laxmi Asu Machine which can ease out the arduous manual process of weaving Pochampally sarees. This has helped the weavers increase their production with comparatively less risk.
The uniqueness of the Pochampally sarees lies in the method involved in its unique printing. The transfer of intricate design and coloring onto warp and weft threads first and then weaving them together is globally famous and is known as double ikat textiles. While cotton, silk, and sico (a mix of silk and cotton) are used and the colors used in the weaving process are derived from natural sources and their blends.
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Pochampally is a cluster of 80 villages whose occupation is with traditional looms, whose patterns and designs are centuries-old. Pochampally, presently known as the Silk City is more of a cottage industry and is home to more than 10,000 weaving families in 100 villages. The Pochampally sarees are marketed through various streams using the cooperative society, many other linked organizations, the master weavers, and the business houses in Pochampally.
The annual revenue including yarn sales, purchase of handloom products, and sales earned by the villagers through the selling of Pochampally sarees are Rs.10,00,000,00. In the year 2010, the government divided the belt of artisans into two clusters namely Pochampally 1 and Pochampally 2. It is because of its unique design, efforts are on to revive the dying art.
