Thursday, 21 April 2016

Mangalagiri Handlooms are exclusive, Traditional Sarees with universal appeal, unnatisilks Mangalagiri Handlooms are sarees with universal appeal

Mangalagiri is on the National Highway conecting Kolkata and Chennai, Mangalagiri is very close to Guntur and Vijayawada and is a part of the Vijayawada urban agglomeration.

Heavy gold thread or zari borders, traditional Nizam designs, and simple mono-striped or multi-colour striped pallus adorn the fabric. Various motifs like leaf, mango, parrot, gold coin, add to the appeal of the cotton saree. Current popular trends have printing work and embroidery designs on the mangalagiri cotton sari.




Count is an indication of the fineness of a saree, based on the threads per square inch in warp and weft. Counts range from 40(coarse) to 120 (super fine), with the normal count of 80 – 80 being used for soft woven fabric. Prices begin at Rs 60 to Rs 70 a metre, and could go beyond Rs.1000, based on the intricacies involved in its making




Derived from its original name Totadri, Mangalagiri is from Mangala (good fortune) and Giri (hill). There are three temples of Narayan Swamy in Mangalagiri and popular traditional belief has it that those climbing the hill to offer prayers would definitely buy a saree before leaving Mangalagiri.      

There are some features unique to a Mangalgiri Saree. The soft and comfortable all-season fabric generally does not have designs on the body. It also is known for not having gaps in its weave. There is a missing thread variety of sari not commonly found. 


A traditional occupation involving whole families in the making, it is knowledge gained from experience and experiment, shared and passed down from generation to generation.  Mangalagiri weavers are devoted to their craft.  They also have a clear idea about market trends. Organised into co-operatives, they follow the market to incorporate current demands in their weaves.



The Geographical Indication (GI) Status accorded to the Mangalagiri Handlooms this year has ushered in much sought relief from weaver woes.

High price of raw materials, coupled with spurious goods and nearby local industries affixing the  Mangalagiri Handlooms label to their goods without the traditional quality in their fabrics, was bad enough. Market response was also poor with the genuine fabrics seeming costlier. This led to poor production and exodus of skilled workers from the traditional handloom industry.    


The GI certification is granted if the product possesses distinctive qualities, only when the produce is found to be made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a certain reputation due to its geographical origin. Mangalagiri handlooms and fabrics have a registered logo for the product. With the grant of GI, it would further help boost the market for these sarees.


Based on the current situation being maintained for the next three to four years at least, it is estimated that the current turnover could at least be doubled in the next couple of years.


Unnati Silks, devoted to ethnic sarees and salwar kameez materials, has trendy designs, attractive patterns, in pleasing colours and combinations in its wide collection of Mangalagiri Handloom Sarees at very reasonable prices. Dispatch within 24 hours of order, with free delivery & COD for retail, and world-wide express shipping.  

Thursday, 17 March 2016

Time-tested quality handlooms from Venkatagiri

Venkatagiri, a small town in Nellore district of AP, India, is famous for its special brand of sarees, the Venkatagiri Handloom Sarees. Finely woven and soft to touch they are extremely light in weight and comfortable to wear in any season. Venkatagiri sarees are acknowledged for their fine quality and workmanship and despite trying times have not lost their lustre to this day. The undimmed spirit of the weavers and their families has ensured the continuation of a tradition that has contributed immensely to ethnic handlooms.

The ethnic appeal of Venkatagiri Handlooms
The Venkatagiri saris are woven in silk or cotton with zari, accompanied by attractive prints, from flora, fauna and nature, elegant borders and eye-catching pallus. The motifs are very attractive with subjects of flora and fauna generally chosen. The Venkatagiri handloom saree, once patronized by royalty for its weaving excellence, is today sought after as an ethnic fabric of unique and long-lasting qualities. Continuing the tradition and sustaining this unique art of weaving is a sizeable population of the town, who have retained the old but combined with new, trends which keep the ethnic fabric alive, even in the present-day highly competitive and changing conditions.

The variety in Venkatagiri handooms
There being a lot of experimentation, the variety and range of Venkatagiri Handlooms is phenomenal. The Jamdani Zari Saree, has ‘Jamdani’ prints on a Cotton base and a Zari border, which has fetched laurels from all quarters. It is a must for exclusive occasions. The handloom silk variant with motifs of mango, parrot, animals, birds and other themes of nature made from gold or silver zari, has a more traditional grandeur and feel about it, that make it apt for social occasions. There is an Institute of Handloom Technology, which attracts those wishing to make a career in Handloom fabrics, and have weaving as part of their practical curriculum. This also benefits Venkatagiri subsequently from graduates who stay on to provide their knowledge in suggesting new designs and modern techniques to implement in the traditional craft.


Buy online Venkatagiri handlooms from Unnati Silks
The Venkatagiri Handlooms range at Unnati Silks to buy online is phenomenal. There are white and light coloured sarees like a fresh breeze with light floral prints. There are plain dark coloured saris with stripes on the pallus an attractive colour and zari borders. Then you have earthy and subdued colour sarees that have jacquard weaving designs all over the saree and zari borders. Also you have striking coloured sarees with tantalizing colours and nice fancy prints.


Buy online Venkatagiri Handloom sarees and get the Unnati advantage
Unnati silks, largest ethnic Indian shop to buy online provides offers for you to buy online Venkatagiri handloom saris online with matching blouse for sale. Online shopping store with the widest range of ethnic Indian Sarees and Salwar Kameez. At Unnati Silks, you can buy Venkatagiri Handloom sari online from the exclusive range of saris - a unique, fancy, exclusive collection of Traditional, Wedding, bridal attire, stylish, party, trendy fashion, formal, corporate, office, daily casual saris in silk, cotton, sico, art silk georgette, chiffon, dupion, tussar, organza, crepe, gicha, jute and other fabric varieties at attractive prices.


You can buy Venkatagiri Handloom sarees online at Unnati silks and products will be dispatched within 24 working hours of placing the order. We have free shipping and Cash on Delivery (COD) facility for Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bhopal, Indore, Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Dispur, Itanagar, Kohima, Chandigarh , Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jullundur, Ernakulam and many other Indian cities and towns. We also do Worldwide fast shipping or express shipping to countries like UK, Canada, USA, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Seychelles, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar, Mauritius, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and many more.

Click here for more venkatagiri handloom sarees

For more collection visit www.unnatisilks.com


Thursday, 10 March 2016

South cotton sarees - virtuous fabrics of comfort

The variety of cotton in the southern part of India used for fabrics is soft, having good texture and with a lot of incorporations and adornments. The popularity of south cotton sarees as much preferred fabrics for housewives and working women alike, stems from their light weight, airy feel and all-day comfort. Most working women prefer to wear a cotton saree, on account of the feel and comfort. The South cotton saree is quite popular as summer wear for being suitably light and comfortable and with a vast range of colours and adornments, with extended use for most occasions. Handloom clusters of south India are known for their unique weaving, regional motifs, traditional zari or thread borders with very elegant pallus.

The appeal of South Cotton sarees
Pure cotton, mercerized cotton, gicha and unbleached cotton are some variants of cotton used in weaving. South Cotton sarees are cheaper than pure silk and are easy to maintain. They retain freshness throughout the day. Cotton is a moderately strong natural fibre that is soft, airy, comfortable, and has little to no lustre. It has good acceptability for any colour of dye, affords good comforting feel, and keeps the body cool in summer and warm in winter. Mercerization of cotton improves its strength and lustre.

The range and variety of South Cotton handloom sarees
Gadwal cotton zari saris, Venkatagiri Jamdhani cotton, Narayanpet top tenni pallu sarees, Pochampally Cotton ikkat weave, Mangalagiri cotton nizam designs, Kalamkari painted cotton saree, Uppada intricately woven in zari or cotton thread motifs are some traditional Andhra Pradesh weaves. Coimbatore Kora cotton saris, Madurai block printed sungudi sarees, finely woven Kanchi cotton saris, check patterns of Chettinad handlooms are famous cotton sarees of Tamil Nadu. Apart from Kerala weaves of Kasavu or Onam saris, exclusive colorful cotton sarees of designer prints are latest trending varieties. Karnataka is known for its Ilkal variety of sarees and the famous Dharwad coloured cottons with intricate designs and embroidery.


Buy online South Cotton saree from Unnati Silks
Unnati Silks has a fine collection of handloom South Cotton sarees that are fresh-look, soft and smooth creations in different varieties of South Cotton. The South pure cotton sari comes with exquisite floral and block prints. The borders and the pallu (end piece) have good prints and appealing adornments to enhance the south cotton saris. Jacquard weaving is employed for south cotton handlooms lending attractive results. Sarees in light hues and pastels, the colours are vivid and vibrant and designs in flowery settings and attractive coloured stripes on the pallu being quite popular. No wonder that with the rise in the cost of silks and the enhanced attractiveness of cotton fabrics, south cotton saris from traditional handloom clusters are doing very well in the market.

Buy online South Cotton sarees and get the Unnati advantage
Unnati silks, largest ethnic online Indian shop offers exquisite designer South Cotton Sarees with matching blouse for sale. The Online shopping store has the widest range of ethnic Indian Sarees and Salwar Kameez. At Unnati Silks, you can buy Handloom South Cotton sarees online from the exclusive range of saris -unique, fancy, exclusive collection of Traditional, Wedding, bridal attire, stylish, party, trendy fashion, formal, corporate, office, daily casual saris in silk, cotton, sico, art silk georgette, chiffon, dupion, tussar, organza, crepe, gicha, jute and other fabric varieties at attractive prices.


You can purchase online at Unnati silks and the products will be dispatched within 24 working hours of placing the order. We have free shipping and Cash on Delivery (COD) facility for Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Ernakulam, Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh and many other Indian cities. We also do Worldwide express shipping to countries like UK in cities like London, Leicester, Canada in cities like Ottawa, Quebec, USA in cities like New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Seychelles, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar, Mauritius, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and many more.

Click here for South Handloom Cotton Sarees Online

For more collection visit www.unnatisilks.com