Chandur Weavers Set New Trends in Fashion World
Fresh patterns and modern ideas help Chandur weavers gain national attention
Nalgonda: Chandur handloom weavers are blending modern designs with traditional fabrics, earning national attention and featuring in fashion shows across the country.
With Pochampally ikkat saris entering the market with limited design options, weavers from Chandur in Nalgonda district introduced fresh patterns in ikkat, creating strong demand for their products. They have also applied these new designs to Banaras, Kanchi twikkat and jamdani saris, making their collections standout pieces at handloom exhibitions.
Located 32 km from Nalgonda and 95 km from Hyderabad, Chandur is home to around 600 weavers in the town and surrounding villages, all working on traditional maggams.
Chandur’s Padmanjali pattu has already earned recognition in the textile world and continues to be a fast-selling sari. Its uniqueness lies in the distinctive 18-inch border and 8-inch lower border woven with China silk and silver zari.
Weavers have developed new sari models by blending elements from popular styles such as Paithani-concept jamdani, Kanchi bhuta mix, Kanchi chikankari French knot, kati patora and twikkat. They have also introduced a jamdani-type sari using a locking system, which has given the fabric a fresh look and boosted demand.
The quality and finish of these new designs have made Chandur a preferred stop for wholesale buyers. Students from NIFT and other fashion design institutes frequently visit Chandur to study weaving techniques at the field level.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, master weaver Chilukuri Srinivas said handloom weavers must constantly innovate to compete with digitally printed saris produced on powerlooms. He noted that powerloom producers often imitate ikkat designs, patterns that require immense effort from handloom artisans. “Handloom weavers must keep updating designs to retain market strength,” he said, adding that he introduces a new design once 50 per cent of the previous batch is sold, as relying on a single pattern reduces demand and causes losses.
Srinivas, who executes designs developed by noted fashion designer Gaurang Shah, said saris woven in Chandur using Shah’s concepts have been showcased at national and international fashion events.
Designer Bala Balaji from the Weavers’ Service Centre, Hyderabad, said handloom fabrics naturally offer superior quality, but innovative designs are essential for market success. He added that Chandur weavers have created their own demand through experimentation and that the centre continues to support them with design guidance.
