The Thirubhuvanam Silk Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Production and Sale Society has been accorded Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its silk sarees.
Disclosing this to The Hindu in Thanjavur on Tuesday, the legal advisor of the society and president, Intellectual Property Rights Attorney Society, Sanjay Gandhi, said the application for GI tag for the handloom silk saree weaved in and around Thirubhuvanam area near Kumbakonam, was filed with the Geographical Indications Registry in 2014.
After completing the procedure, the Registry handed over the certificate to the Tamil Nadu Handloom and Textiles Department officials on Monday in Chennai.
The Thirubhuvanam silk saree, known for its intricate border and pallu designs, measures about 18 feet in length and 4 feet in breadth with one side border. The speciality of the saree is that filature silk is used for both warp and weft resulting in high quality, shining, uniformity and lustre. Known as a traditional wedding saree of medium weight with motifs, body and border woven in the same single warp, its pallu is woven continuously on the loom.
The weaving technique used in the making of the saree is called porai ilupu, which distinguishes it from the pitni work of Kancheepuram silk saree. Another uniqueness of the silk saree is its visiri madippu — a pattern of folding that looks like a hand-held palm fan.
Further, the technique of weaving by frequently changing of warp yarns and maintaining the tension of warp naturally gives sufficient stiffness to the saree and has better drapability.