Kunbi Textiles

The Kunbi textile is named after one of the oldest indigenous communities of Goa. These sarees, chequered and prominently dyed in various shades of red, were originally worn by Kunbi and local women who were paddy field workers. This is the main reason the drape of this saree is simple: the length is just below the knee, giving freedom to the Kunbi workers to carry on with their daily chores and field labour. The handloom industry has slowly died with the advent of power looms and auto looms. The requirement of raw materials is a costly affair, as the nearest places from Goa to procure yarns are Kolhapur or Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra or even Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.