The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Co-optex brings out sari with 1.64 lakh colours

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Monday, Nov 27, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Co-optex brings out sari with 1.64 lakh colours

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister releases the sari and names it `Mayil Thogai'

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers' Cooperative Society (Co-optex) could possibly weave its way into the Guinness Book of World Records through its production of a silk sari with 1.64 lakh colours. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi released the sari a few days ago and named it `Mayil Thogai'.

Priced at Rs.40,000, the sari was created in association with the Sirumugaipudur Sri Ramalinga Sowdeswari Handloom Weavers' Co-operative Society in Coimbatore.

The sari has 164 colours in the warp and 1,003 colours in the weft, and was produced in 25 days, said M.P. Nirmala, Special Officer and Managing Director of Co-optex. A team of 15 skilled artisans produced the silk sari. Apart from containing the maximum number of colours, the sari's border has been designed to portray the Seven Wonders of the World, and the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple on the `pallu'.

The Textiles Committee, functioning under the Union Ministry of Textiles, confirmed the use of colours both in the warp and the weft.

After releasing the sari, Mr. Karunanidhi honoured the weaver, designer and other officials of the society that produced the sari. Six saris have been produced so far. But, they are not for sale. Only after receiving orders from customers will production start, Ms. Nirmala said. The prototype was displayed at Co-optex's Thillaiyadi Valliammai showroom on Pantheon Road, Egmore.

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