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Immemorial Tamil Nadu Silk- Salem Silk

Salem is well-known for its silk and cotton weaving, white silk is a specialty to sale to sale region situated at a distance of 334 km from Tamil Nadu state capital Chennai. Salem silk is also known as Rasipuram pattu. The weaving tradition goes back hundreds of years. The classic feature of the fabric is plain silk with a temple border. 
History 
The history of salem is dates back to 16th century. Salem is famous for its cotton and silk industry. The rich culture and heritage can be seen in it's silk fabric. Salem is hub of silk saree manufacturing and provided the silk to the country as well abroad.
Cultural importance 
Salem is the inseparable part of the city’s culture making it a valuable asset. The cultural identity is the feature of the salem silk. The city culture and heritage can be seen in the fabric and it's weaving history.
Material used 
Pure mulberry silk from Karnataka is weaved in warp and weft. The silk is processed named ushna which means the process of degumming and bleaching of the fabric. Gold and silver zari is used in border and pallu nowadays artificial zari has taken place of pure zari. Which is it's distinctive characteristic.

Process 
- The sourashtra community produced sale silk from generations to generation. The motifs in border designs like Nagachatti, Kammal, Dimand with roja, Muthu with gold pettu, and more are n the list. The sale silk featureres for their luster, whiteness, technical excellence, and border designs. The thread is woven with the technique of a pit loom or raised pit loom. While the border is wrapped by dobby or in bigger designs jacquard is used. The cross border looks the same in the face and the back of the fabric rib weave is woven with the help of the heolds itself. The fabric woven in 60 to 65 threads in a square in wrap. The with is 51 inch. 

Identification of pure salem 
- By flattening the surface fabric with small brass/steel plate on the loom, which gives famous sheen of salem silk.
- The zari border and pallu in the form of kambi (cross border) is identical on both sides.
- The common practice of two different colored borders woven in the same fabric like red-green, blue-red, green-orange and many more.

Products 
The fabric granted GI (Geographical indication) tag in the year 2008. The products which are made from salem silk elegant saree, dothi, and angvastra (a cloth worn on the upper part of the body).


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