The Magic comes with Mangalgiri dress material online.

Mangalgiri salwar kameez and sarees are a popular product from the state of Andhra Pradesh. The name mangalagiri is derived from the place located 12 km away from Vijayawada. The town of mangalgiri is not only famous for its beautiful salwar kameez but is also popular for being a pilgrimage destination as well. This special salwar kameez or sarees has intricate tribal designs that are woven in cotton along with zari or golden coloured patterns that occur in small checks. The duppta edges of the salwar kameez is adorned with a striped design, which is a typical tribal embellishment that is made out of golden embroidery. The cool mangalgiri salwar kameez come in a host of bold colours that make it look very elegant and gorgeous.

Mangalgieri cotton is produced by the cotton yarn that is purchased from the mills. The cotton yarn is then boiled in water and caustic soda for a couple of hours before it is suitable for dyeing. If the yarn is to produce white coloured salwar kameez, then it is bleached before weaving, else for colouring chemical dyes are used. After dying, the yarn is then sun dried before it is all set for the weaving process.

Since these salwar kameez only have dupatta zari border and zari necks deigns, therefore the fabric is woven on pit looms, which enables the weaver to exert much more force during the weaving process without any gaps. This is what distinguishes the mangalgiri textiles from other weaves. The mangalgiri salwar kameez has no embellishments on its main body. It has a zari or golden thread work embellished Nizam border of the dupatta. These geometrical and simple designs are inspired by the tribal designs.

Mangalgiri is a small village that has a population of around eighty thousand people. Out of the total population, around 5000 of them are weavers of Mangalgiri textiles. The uniqueness of mangalgiri cotton is due to its durability. The fabric is woven only on pit loom and there are no gaps on the weave towards the edges of the fabric along with the sole fact that it is created in Mangalgiri alone.

At present, handloom weaving is the prime occupation of Mangalgiri town and around half of the population depends on this cottage industry for their living. The beautifully woven dress material and sarees that are produced by Mangalgiri are what have placed this small town on the world textile map.

The looms used in Mangalgiri are mostly pit looms. Pit looms are looms which are fixed in the ground level and there will be a pit in which looms peddle will be placed and the weaver will sit on the floor and use his hands and legs to weave.

The mangalgiri handloom sector granting Geographical indication (GI) status. The AP state government applied for the GI status for mangalgiri handlooms and fabrics about three years ago and finally secured it. The GI status is specific recognition granted to the product which would bar others from using the name. The GI certification is granted only after various inspections and scrutiny where the authorities of intellectual properties wing verify whether the product possesses distinctive qualities.

Prachi.L She is a freelancer long associated with ethnic fabrics, known for her special leaning towards ethnic sarees. She enjoys the privilege of being a part-time consultant to Unnati Silks. S.E-mail her at unnatikaro@gmail.com.