King of Kalamkari – Mamatha Reddy’s Kalam Creations is adored by top fashion designer
Fondly referred as the ‘King of Kalamkari’ by ace Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Sarees designed at Kalam Creations by Mamatha Reddy using natural dyes continue to carry forward the legacy of charming Kalamkari paintings and artworks using natural dyes.
Its been more than two decades now, Mamatha Reddy, 56, a native of Tirupati, has built a reputation for herself in saree making with exquisite designs using organic dyes even in the era of rampant screen prints and chemical colours.
Finding her way into popular fashion shows across the country, sarees designed at Mamatha Reddy’s are popular among the likes of several fashion designers such as Sashikant Naidu and Gaurang Shah and Bollywood actress Vidya Balan.
She started her journey in the ’90s with an investment of Rs 500 and one painter making cushion covers with zodiac signs using natural dyes which were sold readily, later she turned to saree making.
Now she is running workshop which employs nearly 45 artisan families. Under Kalam Creations workshop all artisan families are well settled and get work in all seasons.
She developed her penchant for Kalamkari art and paintings in her late 20s when she visited an expo in Tirupati and noticed an artist drawing Kalamkari paintings.
She was determined to revive the ageless Kalamakari artwork that too by using natural dyes rather than creating it with duplicate screen printing using chemical colours as done by some manufacturers to earn fast and easy money.
According to her , they make natural dyes from a variety of vegetables and flowers. For instance black colour is produced from palm jaggery, yellow from pomegranate branches and pink from hibiscus flowers.
An exclusive store is being opened in Hyderabad which will be gracing the products manufactured at her workshop for sale.
