Kalamkari
Kalamkari Fabric
Kalamkari is an ancient art of painting on cloth, and this art dates way back in time. The portraits in kalamkari were often used as embellishing scenes in temples, portraying the stories of gods. Today, with the constantly changing contemporary fashion world, this scene still has reflections on original kalamkari fabric, but it is adapting to new changes and giving it new meanings and symbols.
Kalamkari silk fabric is a very exquisite craft that involves up to 23 detailed steps. Kalamkari art mainly uses earthy colors like indigo, mustard, rust, black and green. Natural paints used to paint colors in Kalamkari art are extracted from natural sources without chemicals or artificial matter.
There are two types of Kalamkari paintings, Srikalahasti of Chittoor district (pen kalamkari fabric) and Machilipatnam of Krishna district. Srikalahasti style is a freehand drawing technique, while Machilipatnam is a block-printing technique. Both styles are unique in their own way and curate gorgeous patterns on the fabrics. Srikalahasti kalamkaris are one of Singhania's specialties. The hand-painted sceneries and patterns with eye-catching details seize everyone's attention. The Machilipatnam Kalamkari is recognized as adorned with motifs, hand-printed using blocks. These blocks are hand-carved with intricate designs in wood, and the carved woods were filled in with vegetable dyes.
In the modern days, hand painted kalamkari come in multiple combinations. With different hues, patterns, and paintings, Kalamkari art also offers varieties of fabrics. From raw silk to Banarasi and Kanjivaram, we have a lot of unique kalamkari drapes. Singhania's is the household name for authentic hand-painted kalamkari fabrics. With each day passing by, our artisans and we are working hard to keep the legacy of hand painted kalamkari alive. We believe the Kalamkari painting is a generational art that is unique in its ability to bind us with our humanity and antiquity.