Now, it is not only sarees, dress materials and bedsheets made of these fabric which are in great demand but 'Purdahs' made of ayurvedic herbs are being exported to Saudi Arabia following demand from women of the royal family, says K Komalakumaran, secretary, Handloom Weavers Development Society, based at Balaramapuram in Thiruvananthapuram.
The ayurvedic herbs have various medicinal properties and when they are dyed with the fabric, it gives a cooling effect. They are good for various skin disorders, asthma and some other ailments, he claimed.
Komalakumaran, however, said clinical trials were currently going on in the government Ayurvedic college at the state capital. Some of the clothing materials are also dyed using pomegranate and jaggery.
The Ayurvedic herbs are boiled at a particular temperature and the fabric is dipped in it for at least four hours and, in some cases, a whole day. For making sandalwood sarees, first the yarn and then the cloth is dyed in sandalwood.
The society is at present exporting to Italy, Germany, UK, USA, Singapore and Malyasia, he said adding Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) worth export earnings were received last year. Some enquiries had also been received during the business-to-business meet held in Kochi recently, he said.
Komalachandran said the technology being used for making Ayur cloth is being utilised for making coir mats, mattresses, doormats and carpets.
Delhi-based wool weavers from Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Orissa have entered into tie-ups with the society to make Ayurvedic wool. Discussions have also been held with Kanchipuram weavers to bring out ayurvedic Kanchipuram sarees.
The society officials had met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Handloom Minister to hold talks in this regard. Within a year, the project is expected to go on line, he said.
The nearly one lakh weavers in the society are facing marketing problems and efforts are being made to popularise the innovative products, he said.