Kalamkari is a highly popular form of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile and paintings, practised in Andhra Pradesh. It is a form of painting cotton fabrics with a kalam i.e. pen, which involves a sharp-pointed pierced bamboo regulating the flow of colour on the fabric.
The name originates from Persian words qalam (pen) and kari (craftmanship). Andhra Pradesh is famous all over for this form of art. The major forms are Srikalahasthi from Chittoor district, and Machilipatnam Kalamkari of Krishna district. Machilipatnam Kalamkari involves the use of vegetable dyed block-painting of fabrics and it is produced in the town of Pedana, near Machilipatnam in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. This form of painting was registered for geographical indication under handicraft goods. This style initially evolved during the period of Mughal Dynasty and later it was practiced by Golconda Sultanate. There are different textile products produced from this style like bedsheets, wall hangings and clothing, curtains, saris etc. This region in Coastal AP is renowned for producing some of the finest quality Kalamkari prints of export quality.
Kalamkari Prints