044. Kuthampully Sarees and Fine Cotton Fabrics

Kuthampully Sarees and Fine Cotton Fabrics are well known traditional attire of Kerala woven from Kuthampully Village, Thrissur District.  The major items manufactured in Kuthampully are Grey Saree (Kuthampully Saree or Set Saree), these traditional products are woven with kora white cotton yarn (grey or unbleached or non-dyed yarn) of finer counts.

The origin of the Kuthampully hand-woven products trace back to the end of the 18th century as the product is closely associated with the Royal family of Kochi.

Traditionally the weavers in this cluster used Pure Zari for border, cross-border and for buttas in the body. But due to the exorbitant rise in the price of the pure zari, the weavers are now shifted towards half- fine zari. 

Usage of Hal-fine Zari in the border, cross-border or pallav of the traditional Sarees is rampant in this cluster. Half-fine zari is used for extra warp, extra weft and for motifs in the fabric. Coloured yarn is also used as an alternative to the zari in the border and cross border of the Sarees.

No bleaching or dyeing is involved in the process except for the dyed yarn used in the weft for the border or cross-border. Otherwise, the yarn used is of natural coloured grey cotton yarn. Thus the products are eco-friendly and cause no harm to the body of the user.

A number of preparatory processes and accessories have to be adopted to convert the yarn in the hank or cone form into a warp beam suitable for weaving in the loom.

The weavers in Kuthampully use traditional handloom techniques to weave fabrics that are known for their distinctively rich texture and intricate designs. They use high-quality cotton and silk yarns that are sourced from various parts of the country. 

One of the unique features of the Kuthampully weaving industry is the use of pit looms. The weavers sit on the ground and use their feet to operate the looms. This technique requires a great deal of skill and concentration and is passed down from generation to generation.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 04 September 2010

GI Tag Number                         : 179

Certificate Number                  : 127

Geographical Area                  : Kerala

Special Cover Release Date   : 07 August 2021

Cancellation                             : Kuthampully 680 594

Type                                          : GI Tag Special Cover

Cover Identification Number  : KL/13/2021

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Enlarged View of Cancellation