The fabrics used to create CHAKRA garments and home goods are
printed using the exquisite ancient Indian technique known as
kalamkari. This complex and laborious process of fabric
decorating has been passed down from generation to generation
among Indian families for centuries. The exact origins of the
technique are unknown, however ancient texts indicate that the
craft was widely practiced in southern India, and particularly
in Andhra Pradesh, at least as early as the 13th century CE.
Merchants across the globe used Indian kalamkari textiles as
currency in the Spice Trade, and eventually these fabrics became
luxury items in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. By the mid
20th century, however, demand for kalamkari textiles had fallen
off almost entirely. In 1957, art activist Kamaladevi
Chattopadyaya pushed to establish a government-run center to
train young artists in the ancient practice of kalamkari. Today,
the technique is experiencing something of a resurgence in
popularity, and hundreds of people in the