The sarees of Salem

What is woven here

Salem is best known for its Venpattu, a plain white silk used for veshtis and for saris, with a narrow zari or coloured border. It also makes cotton and mixed cloth. Much of the trade is in cloth for daily and ritual use rather than heavy wedding saris. White silk with a gold border is worn at temples and on festival days across Tamil Nadu.

The craft and its people

Weaving is done on both handlooms and powerlooms. Many weavers work from home and sell through cooperative societies or to traders. The city's trade grew around a steady supply of yarn from nearby spinning mills, and weaving families are found across the surrounding towns.

Seeing it

Salem is a working city with large textile markets. Visitors who want to see weaving should ask at a cooperative society or in the weaving neighbourhoods. The nearby Yercaud hills are a common weekend break, and many people combine the two.

A trail idea for Salem

1. Textile market streets See how white silk and cotton are traded in bulk, and which pieces are woven by hand.
2. A handloom cooperative Ask for a demonstration of how the narrow border is woven into the white body.
3. Yercaud hills A short drive up, useful as a cooler second-day stop after the city.