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W
hen I look back over the past two decades, I marvel
at the way hand-woven Kotpad textiles have evolved
as well as the transformation of the lives of the
weavers of the Koraput region that is located at the border
area of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Kotpad textiles, hand-woven
with cotton yarn that is coloured with natural dyes, were once
simple, slightly thick and coarse weaves that were woven only
for the local tribal community. Today, even as we have kept the
centuries-old tradition of natural dyeing and hand-weaving alive,
the textiles are finer and woven for faraway urban markets. Years
ago, weavers had to walk to the weekly market in Jagdalpur,
Chhattisgarh. Now, they travel to cities in different parts of
the country to exhibit their textiles which are appreciated and
bought by customers from India and abroad.
The traditional Kotpad textile is a
weave that has distinctive features
and an avid fan base amongst
handloom connoisseurs.
Kapileshwar Mohonto
Paramparik Karigar | Kotpad Textile
Simple and Striking
