THE STORY
One of the most beautiful crafts to have emerged from the Coromandel coast of India, Kalamkari literally means ‘work done with a pen’. Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh are the epicenters of Kalamkari craft and produce painted and printed varieties respectively. Painted Kalamkari traditionally depicts religious themes while the Machilipatnam style is more cross-cultural and fuses local motifs with Persian and European ones. The printed Kalamkari textiles were meant for garments, tapestries and prayer mats while the painted Kalamkaris were once used only as a backdrop at the Srikalahastisvara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Today, printed Kalamkari textile is seen as a way to democratize this beautiful art and lends itself with immense ease to apparel as in this offering by Jaypore. Using traditional and contemporary motifs, the apparel reflects the label’s subtle aesthetic and commitment to traditional crafts while keeping the silhouettes fresh, fun and functional.
