Template:Infobox geographical indication Kovai Cora cotton or Kovai Kora cotton is a type of cotton saree made in the Coimbatore region in Tamil Nadu, India.[1][2] It has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2014–15.[3][4]
About
Kovai Kora cotton is made from a blend of silk and cotton.[5] A superior quality cotton yarn is mixed with traditional silk to produce kora cotton.[6] The sarees have bright colored border designs with occasional use of shining zari.[6] The required designs are weaved using the loom using combinations of colored cotton and silk threads and the borders are added later.[6]
Weaving
The kora cotton sarees are weaved on traditional hand-looms.[7] Every saree takes up to three days for weaving and the weavers are paid ranging from Template:INRconvert to Template:INRconvert per saree.[7] The saree is weaved by traditional weaving families in the districts of Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode in the Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu.[7] Sirumugai in Coimbatore district is the major producer of kora cotton sarees.[7]
Sales
82 co-operative societies in the districts of Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode have been certified as authorized dealers of Kovai Kora cotton by the Government of Tamil Nadu.[5] Kora cotton sarees are priced between Template:INRconvert to Template:INRconvert.[6] The sales of kora cotton sarees have seen a decline over the last three decades due to change in dressing preferences of women.[7] Soft silk sarees look grander and colorful with designer blouses.[7] Lower demand and higher remunerations for weaving soft silk sarees have led to weavers switching to weaving silk sarees.[7] The 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.[7] The Government of Tamil Nadu sells the sarees through government run Co-optex stores.[8]
Competition
Kora cotton sarees weaved from traditional hand-looms face competition from cheaper cotton sarees weaved through power-looms.[9] The cotton sarees produced through power-looms cost Template:INRconvert to Template:INRconvert compared to hand woven sarees which cost between Template:INRconvert and Template:INRconvert per saree.[9] High excise duty on yarn used by the hand-looms leading to higher production costs and greater efficiency of power-looms have contributed to the fall in demand for hand woven kora cotton sarees.[9] Weavers have often demanded assistance from the Government of Tamil Nadu for subsidizing production.[9]
Geographical Indication
In 2014, the Government of Tamil Nadu applied for Geographical Indication for Kovai Kora cotton sarees.[10] The Government of India recognized it as a Geographical indication officially since the year 2014-15.[4]
References
- ↑ Industry of Coimbatore. Coimbatore Corporation. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ 31 ethnic Indian products given. Financial Express. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ FE Editorial Indication of incompetence. Financial Express. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Geographical indication. Government of India. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kovai Kora cotton gets GI tag. The Hindu(9 July 2014).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Kovai Kora cotton sarees. Sareez. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Despite GI tag, Kora silk has no takers. Times of India(24 April 2014).
- ↑ Cooptex sets itself Rs.13.50 cr. target for Deepavali season. The Hindu(19 September 2015).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Hard times for handloom `kora' silk units. The Hindu(15 September 2003).
- ↑ GI tag: TN trails Karnataka with 18 products. Times of India(29 August 2013).
Template:Geographical indications in Tamil Nadu Template:Sari Template:Coimbatore Template:Kongu Nadu