Sowmya Kankatala Explores Kalamkari – Tales painted on Fabrics 

by Suman Gupta

Legacy brand Kankatala Sarees, known as the Queen of Sarees, bring a handpicked series by Sowmya Kankatala. Sowmya Kankatala loves to travel, and while doing so, she also enjoys exploring the culture and roots of the places she goes to. This season, Sowmya Kankatala visits the Indian villages where she explores real village moments that are depicted on a Kalamkari Saree for generations.

While exploring, she handpicked some marvelous weaves where some depict the whole Raasleela of Lord Krishna and Gopika handpainted on Kanchipuram saree, whereas some captures a typical Indian village scene that features trees under which deer are relaxing, and women with earthen pots are on their way to fetch water. Some accentuate the handpainted goddess motif on Pochampally Ikat.

Kalamkari art is seen in many forms like paintings, jewellery, and sarees. The word “Kalamkari” is derived from the Persian word ‘Kalam’ which means pen. The colouring process involves the usage of only natural dyes which are extracted from flowers and vegetables. There are mainly two notable styles of Kalamkari art in India – the Srikalahasti style and the Machilipatnam style. The Srikalahasti style of Kalamkari involves the painting fabrics using a Kalam (pen) & fill colors freehand, whereas, the Machilipatnam style uses block-printing procedures. The Kalamkari scene captured on these weaves is created using natural colors by artisans with authentic Kalamkari technique, the art of painting fabrics with a Kalam (pen).

The edition is an artistic expression of Indian weavers, where the diversity of India’s rich culture is celebrated when two unique handloom techniques blend into a six-yard wonder to form an uncommon phenomenon. These one-of-the-kind weaves are not just a piece of fabric, they are a promise by weaver artisans that they have kept preserving their ancestor’s meticulous weaving techniques.

Kankatala is one of the oldest saree brands in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and has represented the age-old weaving techniques for more than 78 years. We have spent 3 generations representing authentic handlooms in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana. Our journey started in 1942, in the lanes of Vizag where our founder, Shri Appalaraju Kankatala sold handloom sarees on a bicycle. From the modest lanes of Vizag to the Capital of India, the 78 years journey has been marvelous. For three generations, we have been representing Indian Handlooms to the Indian diaspora. The brand has always been known for pioneering trends in its market and has been growing steadily.

We believe that the most fascinating weaving techniques are the ones that infuse various handweaving techniques to fabricate the most unique form of wearable art, these Kalamkari sarees are a handwoven marvel that displays the impeccable artistry of the artisans. These artistic and beautiful sarees are all you need to brighten up your occasion.

The Series are available across 13 Kankatala outlets. For more information, visit and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.