A land of variety in every sense—Odisha has so much to offer, it might just take you by surprise. From the array of delicacies to the interesting customs, traditions and festivals we celebrate, we have our own cultural identity. And an essential part of our state is the attire of the people. Did you know that not just the outfits, but even the fabric used to make them are unique? Yes, from west to east of Odisha, every region has its own handloom techniques that are used to weave many unique fabrics. Let’s go on this amazing fabric tour of Sambalpur, shall we?

Handlooms are woven on looms which are operated by hand and in the earlier days before the inception of looms, it was done simply by hand and elementary devices. The 9 yards saree has been the most exclusive in traditional clothing & has been a  part of an Indian woman’s daily wear and can be broadly defined as ‘functional, festive and fashionable clothing’-all in one.

In Sambalpuri sarees, you get to explore various new patterns  which includes thread work of harvest, geographical shapes, birds, animals, fishes, conch shell, flower, wheel, landscape and much more. On draping these sarees you can appreciate the authenticity of Odisha which captures the essence of beauty and allure of a woman.

The most alluring part of these sarees is their association with Bandhakala-the customary craft of tie-dye, also known as Ikkat. In this method, first the threads are tied and dyed and then they are used for weaving. This entire process usually takes more than two weeks to get completed.

These sarees are made from natural colors & weaved withtraditional methods. Each handloom product is unique and never replicated and upon close observation, you can acknowledge the difference between seemingly similar products which reveal slight changes in design, the orientation of a pattern, the border width or any other variation. Like any creative professional who strives to produce uniqueness in his /her art , so do the weavers, who are the masters of their craft creating different patterns to provide distinctive designs, as each handloom product is woven with devotion and care &given that individual attention which shows the love the weaver has for his creations.

Utkalaa is a market place to showcase the rich heritage of the ancient arts of Odisha. There has been many portals, government and private parties involvement to uplift this rich heritage of our beloved state. But sadly, they hardly ever reach the real beneficiaries. The people who put there blood and sweat in building such miraculous arts and crafts, still live under poverty.

Utkalaa is a platform for these geniuses to showcase there skills, and get paid for it. There has been many ups and downs. Some tough decisions, but we are finally here. We welcome you all to our new web portal, where you can experience the greatness of traditional arts and with your purchases, you are directly helping these brilliant creators.

Once again, we thank you for visiting our web portal, and we welcome you to the experience called UTKALAA.