Ilkal Sarees

Ilkal sarees are made in the Ilkal town of Bagalkot district of Karnataka. The uniqueness of the sari stems from weaving the warp (lengthwise threads) in cotton and those in the pallu and the border area in art silk or pure silk. This means that the warp of each and every sari has to be prepared specially. The warp threads of the body and warp threads of the pallu and borders are linked together by loops locally addressed as “Topa Teni” Technique.
Another beautiful feature of Ilkal saree is it's pallu that consists of contrast color (typically red and white) alternate stripes woven in pure silk or art silk, locally known as “Paras” or “Gaadi” running across them.
The length of the pallu varies between 17 to 27 inches. These sarees are produced in three different lengths 6, 8 and 9 meters. Reds, Maroons, and bright colors dominate the Ilkal sarees. These sarees were initially used as daily wear by the women in Northern Maharashtra and Karnataka making them glow in the sun while working in the fields. The body of these sarees generally is plain or has checks, stripes or rectangles. Khun Sarees are made from Khun fabric, a brightly coloured, self patterned and self bordered fabric, popularly used for stitching saree blouses.