Rasipuram Silk Saree, Rasipuram Silk saree continues to shine

Rasipuram, a town in Namakkal district of TamilNadu, India, earlier known as Raajapuram or King’s Town, is famous for its Rasipuram Silk Sarees. 

The Rasipuram Silks are known for their fast colours, durability and comparatively light weight. Motifs inspired by traditional architecture, geometrical patterns and nature adorn the fabric. Fancy designs and beautiful embroidery work further enhance the appeal.  

A traditional heritage involving all family members, Rasipuram Silks are extremely fine hand-woven Sarees. The count of a fabric or the number of threads in a square inch of warp and weft determines the fineness - more the threads, finer the Saree. 5600 threads are used in the warp. The width of the saree comes to 51 inches.With full-fledged efforts, it takes between 4 to 8 days to weave a Saree.

The Rasipuram Silk Saree is availale in delightful variations.

Printed mango booties adorning the hand-loom woven Rasipuram Silk Sari is a beautiful sight, making it apt for corporate wear or social gatherings.

The Plain Rasipuram Saree woven with temple border is more traditional and would be quite suitable for social occasions and religious functions.

Multi thread embroidery, kundans and sequins work decorating this southern hand-loom silk sari is quite fancy and grand. It is highly preferred wear for festive   occasions, corporate functions and special invites.

The process of making a Rasipuram Silk Saree is in stages with care taken at every stage.

Yarn is put in boiling water with the dyeing colour mixed in it. Stirring the yarn ensures uniform colouring. The temperature is kept high for good adhesion of colour. Colour specifications, are generally, by the designer, unless otherwise as specified in the customized order. Spinning the yarn after drying in shade, coloured threads are prepared.

The Rasipuram Silk Saree is woven on simple wooden pit looms. Designs are woven through pre-drawn, card punched and fitted in the Jacquard arrangement which monitors the weft weave for the same.

The thread generally arranged on the warp (pavvu) is meant to weave 6 silk sarees. Weaving a pavvu could take close to one and a half months.

The high cost of silk yarn, lack of subsidies, govt. policies showing their apathy and poor market response had once caused a rapid decline in the making of these traditional offerings with weavers opting to move to power looms and even other professions too. Cotton versions of the Rasipuram saree also flourished as a cheaper alternative to a fine tradition.

Thanks to continued efforts by the Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers’ Co-operative Society Ltd.(also known as Co-optex) , the rot has been stemmed in time. Mechanical pedal looms provided in pilot districts, training skills arranged for weavers in jacquard looms, revival of hand-woven embroidery, providing for markets for these traditional sarees and ensuring decent remuneration to the weavers are some of the heart-warming initiatives brought about by it.    

Back on track after a momentary setback, the Rasipuram Silk Saree continues to shine.