KVIC opens first silk processing plant in Gujarat

The plant has been set up by a khadi institution at a cost of Rs75 lack with Rs60 lakh contribution from KVIC. The unit employs 90 local women, 70 of which belong to the Muslim community.

Patola, the trademark saree of Gujarat, is considered to be very costly and worn only by the royals or the aristocrat. Reason being the raw material silk yarn is purchased from Karnataka or West Bengal, where silk processing units are situated, thus increasing the cost of the fabric manifolds.

Cocoons will be brought from Karnataka and West Bengal and silk yarn will be processed in house, thus reducing the cost of production and giving a major boost to the sale of famous Gujarati Patola Sarees, KVIC chairman V K Saxena said.

Surendranagar district is a backward district in Gujarat where KVIC has invested Rs60 lakh to build the silk processing plant, in order to generate livelihood and boost sales of Patola sarees by making silk more ready available at a lower cost, for the Patola saree manufacturers in the nearby areas.

Traditionally, every region in India has had its own unique weave for the silk sarees. It is quite notable that Patola silk saree is amongst the top five silk weaves which are desired by every Indian saree lover.

Patola is a centuries old silk textile, with its origins in Patan, the northern region of Gujarat. It involves a very intricate and complex process of tie-dyeing on the warp and weft before weaving and is highly acclaimed by connoisseurs as a traditional and ancient art that needs to be preserved and promoted.

Patola weaving requires a lot of precise mental calculations, vivid imagination, patience, undivided attention, and dexterity of the hand.

The designs and motifs found on Patan patola have remained constant for centuries.