What connects King George V, MS Subbulakshmi and Kanchipuram Silk? π€π€
This is a story about a living historical legacy that we can all still witness today!
About Nalli Silks, one of the most famous brands in the country for silk sarees.
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This is a story about a living historical legacy that we can all still witness today!
About Nalli Silks, one of the most famous brands in the country for silk sarees.
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Chinnaswamy Chetty was a weaver whose ancestors had moved from the village of Nalli in Andhra Pradesh to Kanchipuram. He was a gifted weaver of silk sarees himself and started selling under the Nalli name in 1900.
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His first claim to fame happened when King George V visited India in 1911 for his coronation at the Delhi Darbar. Then Chetty presented him a new weave called the 'Darbar Pattu' or 'Coronation Border'
This gave him popularity & the design was sought after by the public!
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This gave him popularity & the design was sought after by the public!
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This is a famous saree even today and if you are lucky when you visit the store in Chennai, they will show you a neat trick where the roll the border of the saree to show that it forms the shape of the Indian Parliament with its pillars and all π
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By the 1920s, Chennai had a new budding shopping district in T.Nagar and all weavers wanted a space there. Hence Chinnaswamy Chetty also built his first and iconic shop in 1928 and a true landmark was born.
The enamel board saying SINCE 1928 is famous by itself π
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The enamel board saying SINCE 1928 is famous by itself π
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The next claim to fame happened in the 1950s when MS Subbulakshmi walked in with a thread of an unique blue shade and wanted Nalli to make her a saree in that colour.
Taking the challenge, Nalli delivered and the MS Blue Saree was born made popular by her in many concerts!
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Taking the challenge, Nalli delivered and the MS Blue Saree was born made popular by her in many concerts!
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The next innovation came in the 60s. Nalli introduced a checked design saree called the Paalum Pazhamum saree (borrowed from a recent popular Tamil movie) meaning 'Milk' &'Fruit' design which was an instant hit and has further been a go to choice for women over next decades
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Multiple further generations have taken over over decades and the shop's offerings are modernized today in a national chain.
But the first store still maintains its auras with its wooden walls, on the floor displays and ancient lightings & fans & ofcourse mesmerizing silks!
But the first store still maintains its auras with its wooden walls, on the floor displays and ancient lightings & fans & ofcourse mesmerizing silks!
No shopping plans in Chennai is complete without a visit to charming Nalli. Durbar Pet, MS Blue, Paalum Pazhamum are all sarees you can still buy today. Its buying a piece of history for yourself π
If you liked this mini history tour, RT this thread and follow for more π
If you liked this mini history tour, RT this thread and follow for more π
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