CHENNAI: In an effort to bring legal recognition to the renowned Thirubuvanam silk sarees, the State Handlooms and Textiles Department has applied for the Geographical Indicator status for the traditional silk sarees handwoven by the weavers of Thirubuvanam, a temple town in Thanjavur district.
Thirubuvanam silk sarees are a famous brand of silk sarees in the delta and southern districts. Often referred to as ‘Kalyana Pudavai’, the sarees are the preferred choice for weddings in these districts. “It is as famous as Kancheepuram silks in the delta and the southern districts. But the speciality of the Thirubuvanam silks is that even economically backward families can afford them. One can get a Thirubuvanam silk saree for `5,000,” said P Sanjay Gandhi, additional government pleader and intellectual property rights attorney of the TN government.
The Handlooms and Textiles Department has filed the application with the GI Registry on behalf of Thirubuvanam Silk Handloom Weavers Co-operative Production and Sale Society Limited (THICO Silks). The co-operative society was founded in 1955 and is currently doing business worth `30 crore.
“The application is currently under consideration by the registry and if the status is granted it will help in preventing the proliferation of fake Thirubuvanam silk sarees imported from China,” said Sanjay Gandhi.
According to THICO Silks, only filature silk is used for both warp and weft in Thirubuvanam sarees, resulting in high quality and uniform lustre. The co-op society runs a dye house where the silk is dyed exclusively and distributed as per the requirements of weavers. Thirubuvanam silk sarees are crafted by hand looms, and not the power-operated or automated looms. Weavers of Thirubuvanam silks make use of a number of design motifs that are specially attributed to them.