Co-optex revives 7 handloom weaves in one year

When Co-optex, an 80-year-old organisation wanted to revive some of the lost textile varieties that were once the trademark of the state, they decided to rope in weavers, who had given up the trade due to lack of patronage or because the younger generation wasn’t willing to take up the vocation again. T.N. Venkatesh I.A.S., Managing Director of Co-optex, says that with feedback from customers across the country, the organisation began the task of bringing back some of the rich and unique textiles. These include Kooranadu saree (a mix of silk and cotton), Kanchi cotton, Kodalikaruppur, Chettinadu cotton or kandangi sarees, Rasipuram temple border, Madurai sungudi and Woraiyur cotton sarees.

Venkatesh adds, “The state is rich in textile heritage, which is specific to each belt. We heard from our patrons that some handloom sarees, once popular in the 80s, were no longer seen in the market. We decided to bring them back and spoke to weavers, their numbers had gone down as they had switched occupations. For Kanchi cotton’s revival, we gave the weavers some incentives. We assured them we will buy the entire stock.”

Talking about the uniqueness of each variety, he explains that Kodalikaruppur was worn by the royalty during the Thanjavur Maratha rule. It was made with a mix of silk, gold and silver. “Today, such a variety would cost lakhs. Therefore, we have only taken the traditional motifs used. As for Woraiyur cotton sarees from Tiruchy, they are now produced by a section of weavers in Manamedu, who come up with new colours in the traditional pattern. Rasipuram variety is lighter than the Arani version and it is characterised by its temple border, he adds.

Aiming at taking the revived textiles to a larger audience, the organisation had put up exhibitions in its showrooms across India and received a huge response. “We came up with patterns that are region specific. What sells in Coimbatore might not click in Mumbai or Delhi,” he says. Co-optex has tied up with the alumnus of National Institute of Design to come up with more pastels to match the taste of its customer base across India and abroad.

He says that Co-optex website has helped in spreading the word and providing more access. “We are seeing a younger crowd who want specifically handloom varieties. Recently, we had a family from the US coming to our store looking for Kanchi cotton,” he adds.