CHENNAI: Do you know where to find the best of lehariya dupattas in the city? Answers to questions such as this and lesser-known facts about the shopping hub of Pondy Bazaar were presented to a group that undertook a textile walk which passed by several shops in the area.
Conducted by textile enthusiast Sreemathy Mohan as part of the Madras Week celebrations on Saturday, the walk began at Co-Optex. Starting with the organisation that was started in 1935 with a presentation on the array of silks, cotton and yardage available there--- from the Kancheepuram silks to the Arani variety and Madurai Sungudi, the participants were also given an insight into how they could differentiate between the sarees made using handlooms and power looms.
Co-optex MD TN Venkatesh IAS also showed the memorandum, which was made from different fabrics, that was presented to the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the fifties by craftspersons.
Hopping across the road, the next destination was the Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (APCO), where they took a look at Pochampalli silks, ikats, jamdanis and Uppada, et al from the fabric-rich Andhra Belt.
Throwing in interesting tidbits of information, Sreemathy, who not only knew the area like the back of her hand but also the history associated with it, said it was former PM Indira Gandhi who popularised Sambalpuri Ikats. Moving over to the new Corporation Shopping Complex, which is now accommodating the hawkers who initially sold their wares on the platform, the short stopover took the ladies to the dingy shops of accessories, hairclips---a paradise for trinket and accessory lovers. One realised that if one was looking for imitations of Christian Dior’s peek-a-boo-earrings, then this was the place!
Then it was the turn to know more about Naidu Hall, which was founded by MG Naidu, who began as a tailor and later went on to set up one of the landmark shops in the area. Revolutionising the concept of brassieres and petticoats, his tale was about grit, foresight and determination--- an inspiration for those who dream big.
A few shops away, Ramraj Cotton, was probably the only men-interest stopover, with its vast collection of white shirts and dhotis. A brand that is famous for its exclusive collection of dhotis for politicians, the brand gives opportunities to weavers across TN.