Mangalgiri Charcoal Grey Cotton Silk Saree Ikat Pallu

A charcoal grey Mangalgiri saree gridded in gold and silver zari checks and finished with a hand dyed multicolour ikat pallu a quietly dramatic handloom for festive evenings Handwoven on pit looms in the Mangalgiri Pedana cluster of Andhra Pradesh this saree sets a deep charcoal grey silk cotton body checked all over with fine gold and silver zari kattam against a contrasting ikat pallu of diamond and buti motifs in maroon mustard cream and green edged by a gopuram temple step zari border Mangalgiri cloth carries a Geographical Indication GI No 180 granted 2013 and a 500 year pit loom lineage the tight weave gives even a dark ground a soft sheen Comes with a blouse piece How to spot the real handloom The pallu is ikat the yarn was resist dyed before weaving so the diamond and buti motifs feather softly on both faces instead of sitting sharp and one sided like a print The checks are woven from gold and silver zari in the warp and weft turn the saree over and the grid is still locked into the cloth not stamped on the surface The gopuram zari border is interlocked and reversible and the body has a crisp dry silk cotton hand with tiny weft slubs pit loom tells a powerloom copy can t fake Wear it for Festive evenings receptions and pujas pair with the blouse piece temple or oxidised silver jewellery and a deep bindi