The history of Mysore silk sarees
Mysore silk sarees originate from the city of Mysore in the state of Karnataka. These sarees are made out of pure crepe silk and often woven with gold zari. Mysore silk sarees are renowned all over the world for their soft texture, light weight and vibrant colors. As opposed to yarn dyeing where the warp and weft yarns are dyed separately before weaving, the entire fabric is dyed in these sarees to produce a variety of beautiful colors.
In this short blog, we want to explore the history of this saree along with the current trends.
The Wadiyar dynasty
The history of Mysore silk sarees dates back to the reign of the Wadiyar dynasty, which ruled the kingdom of Mysore in southern India from the 14th to the 20th century. The Wadiyar kings were great patrons of art and culture and they were particularly fond of silk weaving. Under their patronage, the art of silk weaving flourished in Mysore and the city became known for producing some of the finest silk fabrics in India.
The early 20th century
In the early 20th century, the Maharaja of Mysore, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, established the government silk weaving factory in the city of Mysore. This factory was set up with the aim of promoting the art of silk weaving and providing employment opportunities for local weavers. The factory was equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, which helped to streamline the production process and ensure consistent quality.
Recent history
In 1980, the silk weaving factory was handed over to Karnataka silk industries corporation Ltd., a govt. of Karnataka enterprise and is popularly known as KSIC. To this day, KSIC continues to promote and produce fine Mysore silk sarees and is a tourist attraction.
Mysore silk sarees have undergone several transformations over the years, but still retain their elegance and glamour. Today, Mysore silk sarees are famous for their quality silk and beautiful patterns. They are a symbol of India's rich cultural heritage and are worn by women across the country and the world.
Here are a collection of elegant Mysore silk sarees curated by our team;
