Textiles Of Odisha: The Revival Story
The more you travel in India and outside, the harder it becomes to not compare the beauty of one state with another. One does not need to be a fashionista or a fashion enthusiast to understand the subtle difference in the textiles and craftsmanship as you cross the border from one state to another.
Odisha: India’s best-kept secret
Odisha earlier known as Orissa, located in Eastern India has forever been famous for its rich variety of ethnic Indian fashion wear for its intricate weaves. With the endless variety of cotton and silk fabrics from Bomkai to Ikat, from Kotpad to Pasappali, and Habaspuri handlooms to Khandua, you just can’t get enough. It’s hard not to notice how versatile, sustainable, and luxurious these handcrafted and gorgeous handloom textiles are.
However, it’s not just the fabric but the rich borders, motifs, and play of threads in those weaves that creates the magic. The most enchanting part is its thread work in the designs of the border and the pallu.
In Bomkai, you will see designs of fish, and Pasapalli or Saptapar are easily identified because of the bright colored Chess Board’s boxes on the Body or Border which you can never miss. In Ikat, one can see birds and other animals, rudraksha, geometric patterns, dice, temple towers, conch, and lots of pinnacles.
Ikat is an all-time favorite and has been rightly called the poetry on the loom. All over the world, there is a deep abiding love for Tussar handloom textiles which are woven in Fakirpur (Kendujhar), Gopalpur (Jajpur), Makidia (Balasore), and Nuapatna (Cuttack) in Odisha.
Sustainable Fashion is now a Necessity
Other than the fact that they will never be out of fashion, there is one more thing that makes you lean on them because they are sustainable fashion. Eco-conscious fashion is a fast-growing trend among consumers including the next-gen and luxury designers in India.
One can see the ladies of Odisha draped in the soft cotton textured fabric at home or in the office and it feels impossible to fall out of love with the pattern, motifs, texture, color, and exquisite craftsmanship of the fabric.
‘Make in Odisha’ and reach a bigger audience
But, why limit the beauty of the odia fabric to only a section of soulful & ethnic handwoven Indian fashion. The world of fashion is forever evolving and the vibrant colors, bold contrasts & textured cotton of Odisha textile look magnificent whether it is ethnic or contemporary.
With sarees that flatter almost every shape and size, you can simply impress anyone and feel your confident best but the fabric even looks gorgeous as dresses, tunics, skirts, blazers, and jackets.
Odisha textiles and weaves are now on the global fashion map and things have certainly started to change with the emergence of the concept of eco-friendly clothing.
The rich fabric and materials are highlighting the tradition but at the same time breaking some of the norms and going above and beyond. There are a bigger audience pool and end consumers wanting to experience the true artistic capabilities and superior craftsmanship of Odisha.
The Handloom Story
The textiles of Odisha are dyed organically rendering a kind of richness to the cloth and promote the environment and social responsibility.
They are chemical-free and that’s how this unique tribal handloom tradition deserves all the love and respect but it is sad that there are places where the journey began and the art and the weavers are struggling to survive.
There are history and generation-old traditions that are involved in this elaborate process of dyeing, warping, weaving to create the soft fabric. To put things in perspective, India is one of the biggest textile consumption and export markets as people from all over have a larger interest in Indian handloom, traditional weaves, and eco-friendly textiles.
Weavers and art of Odisha need a rebranding and a fresh look to establish their position on top in the global textile industry.
Time to Reinvent Odisha’s Weaves
The blend of modern creatives and traditional textiles is the future of fashion. That and sustainability will not only support thousands of weavers and related craftsmen and artisans but also make an unmistakable style statement making it a prized heirloom.
