Weavers of wellness: Wearing ayurveda

The handloom weavers of Balaramapuram near Thiruvananthapuram have given a fresh lease of life to the ancient science of ayurvastra—a branch of ayurveda. In ayurvastra, yarn or fabric is treated with dyes prepared from over 1,200 herbs, like holy basil and turmeric. Some of these herbs grow wild around the brick building, out of which functions the Handloom Weavers Development Society. Ayurvastra garments are said to aid in the treatment of skin infections, diabetes and hypertension. International design houses like Lecoanet Hemant source fabric from the society.

By: Mexy Xavier

Published: May 12, 2018

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At the Handloom Weavers Development Society, fabrics are bleached in a solution of aloe vera, before they are dyed

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Red sandalwood, to be used as red dye, is broken into small pieces before being powdered

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The powder is mixed with freshly plucked medicinal leaves, spices, roots and water

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The mixture simmers over firewood

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The organic dye is strained through a fine cloth

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Stirring of the clothes into the herbally formulated dyes

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Yarn is soaked in the dye. Depending on the strength of the colour required, it may remain soaked for a few days

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The dyed material is rinsed and...

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Again soaked in water...

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Then rinsed again to remove foreign particles

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The cleaned fabric is wringed one last time

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The herbally treated yarn (or fabric) is dried in a dark room, the floor of which is covered in medicinal leaves

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Ayurvastra fabrics, dyed in various colours and dried, hang on a clothes line at the society. Commonly used organic dyes include turmeric (yellow), marigold (orange), neem (green), henna (brown) and indigo (blue)