HYDERABAD: Kalamkari — the hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile art which originated in India and Iran more than 2,000 years ago — is one of the few examples of age-old traditions lasting even to this date, albeit with modifications. Today, Kalamkari, which literally means artwork done with pen or brush, can be readily found not only at private retail outlets but also on e-commerce websites.
However, with the advent of technology and to keep up with growing demands, the handcraft is being replaced by mechanised production in which chemical dyes and screen-printing are used. Instead of designing on the cloth using a pen, the machines create digital prints and then make large stencils.
The reason for the shift to the mechanised way of producing cotton textile is because crafting the material by hand takes a longer time. Believe it or not, the fabric has to be first soaked in buffalo milk and cow dung before being washed.
“The washing process takes at least 2-3 hours. It needs the worker’s full attention because any negligence might damage the cloth,” Fahad, an employee working at a Kalamkari shop in Saidabad.