https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kovai_Cora_cottonKovai Cora cotton - Revision history2026-07-31T20:40:28ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Kovai_Cora_cotton&diff=510687&oldid=prevSanjayGhare at 22:46, 30 June 20252025-06-30T22:46:09Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Type of saree from Tamil Nadu, India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}<br />
{{Infobox geographical indication<br />
| name = Kovai Cora cotton<br />
| image = <br />
| image_size = <br />
| caption = <br />
| description = [[Cotton]] [[saree]]s manufactured in [[Coimbatore]]<br />
| type = [[Handicraft]]<br />
| area = [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]]<br />
| country = [[India]]<br />
| registered = 2014-15<br />
| material = [[cotton]]<br />
| official website = <br />
}}<br />
'''Kovai Cora cotton''' or '''Kovai Kora cotton''' is a type of [[cotton]] [[saree]] made in the [[Coimbatore]] region in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coimbatore.nic.in/industry.html|title=Industry of Coimbatore|publisher=Coimbatore Corporation|access-date=28 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730121603/http://coimbatore.nic.in/industry.html|archive-date=30 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/31-ethnic-Indian-products-given-GI-protection-in-0708/292305|title= 31 ethnic Indian products given|newspaper=Financial Express|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref> It has been recognized as a [[Geographical indication]] by the [[Government of India]] in 2014–15.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/story-print/340022|title=FE Editorial Indication of incompetence|newspaper=Financial Express|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="GI">{{cite web|url=http://ipindia.nic.in/girindia/ |title=Geographical indication |publisher=Government of India |access-date=28 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826183844/http://ipindia.nic.in/girindia/ |archivedate=26 August 2013 }}</ref><br />
<br />
==About==<br />
Kovai Kora cotton is made from a blend of [[silk]] and [[cotton]].<ref name="Kora">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kovai-kora-cotton-gets-gi-tag/article6190948.ece|title=Kovai Kora cotton gets GI tag |date=9 July 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> A superior quality [[cotton]] yarn is mixed with traditional [[silk]] to produce kora cotton.<ref name="Sup">{{cite web|url=http://www.sareez.com/blog/cotton-sarees/|title=Kovai Kora cotton sarees|access-date=29 January 2016|publisher=Sareez|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203203446/http://www.sareez.com/blog/cotton-sarees/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The sarees have bright colored border designs with occasional use of shining zari.<ref name="Sup"/> The required designs are weaved using the loom using combinations of colored cotton and silk threads and the borders are added later.<ref name="Sup"/><br />
<br />
==Weaving==<br />
The kora cotton sarees are weaved on traditional [[handloom|hand-looms]].<ref name="Taker">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Despite-GI-tag-Kora-silk-has-no-takers/articleshow/47034268.cms|title=Despite GI tag, Kora silk has no takers |date=24 April 2014|newspaper=[[Times of India]]}}</ref> Every saree takes up to three days for weaving and the weavers are paid ranging from {{INRconvert|450}} to {{INRconvert|850}} per saree.<ref name="Taker"/> The saree is weaved by traditional weaving families in the districts of [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore]], [[Tiruppur district|Tiruppur]] and [[Erode district|Erode]] in the [[Kongu Nadu]] region of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="Taker"/> [[Sirumugai]] in [[Coimbatore district]] is the major producer of kora cotton sarees.<ref name="Taker"/><br />
<br />
==Sales==<br />
82 co-operative societies in the districts of [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore]], [[Tiruppur district|Tiruppur]] and [[Erode district|Erode]] have been certified as authorized dealers of Kovai Kora cotton by the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="Kora"/> Kora cotton sarees are priced between {{INRconvert|800}} to {{INRconvert|1200}}.<ref name="Sup"/> The sales of kora cotton sarees have seen a decline over the last three decades due to change in dressing preferences of women.<ref name="Taker"/> Soft silk sarees look grander and colorful with designer blouses.<ref name="Taker"/> Lower demand and higher remunerations for weaving soft silk sarees have led to weavers switching to weaving silk sarees.<ref name="Taker"/> The [[Geographical Indication|GI]] tag helped increase sales by 15% in 2014-15. But the spike in demand was able to convince weavers to switch back to weaving kora sarees and the sales declined the following year.<ref name="Taker"/> The [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] sells the sarees through government run [[Co-optex]] stores.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/cooptex-sets-itself-rs1350-cr-target-for-deepavali-season/article7667414.ece|title=Cooptex sets itself Rs.13.50 cr. target for Deepavali season|date=19 September 2015|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Competition==<br />
Kora cotton sarees weaved from traditional hand-looms face competition from cheaper cotton sarees weaved through [[power loom|power-loom]]s.<ref name="loom">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2003/09/16/stories/2003091601841700.htm|title=Hard times for handloom `kora' silk units|date=15 September 2003|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The cotton sarees produced through power-looms cost {{INRconvert|400}} to {{INRconvert|600}} compared to hand woven sarees which cost between {{INRconvert|900}} and {{INRconvert|1200}} per saree.<ref name="loom"/> High excise duty on yarn used by the [[hand loom|hand-loom]]s leading to higher production costs and greater efficiency of power-looms have contributed to the fall in demand for hand woven kora cotton sarees.<ref name="loom"/> Weavers have often demanded assistance from the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] for subsidizing production.<ref name="loom"/><br />
<br />
==Geographical Indication==<br />
In 2014, the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] applied for [[Geographical Indication]] for Kovai Kora cotton sarees.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/GI-tag-TN-trails-Karnataka-with-18-products/articleshow/6458268.cms|title= GI tag: TN trails Karnataka with 18 products|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|date=29 August 2013}}</ref> The [[Government of India]] recognized it as a [[Geographical indication]] officially since the year 2014-15.<ref name="GI"/><br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{Geographical indications in Tamil Nadu}}<br />
{{Sari}}<br />
{{Coimbatore}}<br />
{{Kongu Nadu}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Saris]]<br />
[[Category:Geographical indications in Tamil Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil culture]]<br />
[[Category:Indian handicrafts]]<br />
[[Category:Erode district]]<br />
[[Category:Coimbatore district]]<br />
[[Category:Tiruppur district]]<br />
[[Category:Kongu Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil clothing]]<br />
[[Category:Textile industry in Tamil Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Cotton industry in India]]</div>SanjayGhare