Apparel September 2019 Apparel September 2019 issue | Page 56

FABRIC SPEAK
The Silent Magnificence
of Mangalagiri Fabrics
A small village in Andhra Pradesh, Mangalagiri is known for its eponymous handloom craft that
continues to thrive despite several hardships. Bindu Gopal Rao writes.
Located between the cities of Vijayawada and
Guntur is the tiny town of Mangalagiri, which is
known for its fine cotton textiles. Almost every
home here is involved in fabric-related activities.
In Mangalagiri, it is common to hear the collective
sound of handlooms emanating from weaving
workshops, where artisans work away religiously.
They sit with their feet firmly on the ground to
craft these weaves so that they are tight and have
a sturdy texture.
50
I APPAREL I
September 2019
AN INTRIGUING WEAVE
If there is one thing that is inherently magnificent
about traditional Indian textiles, it is the
unparalleled attention given to delivering the
highest handcrafted quality possible. The soft
and pristine Mangalagiri cottons are one such
example. It is one of those Indian weaves that
have been slowly seeing resurgence, what
with designers increasingly adapting it for
contemporary times.