Sari

Kanchipuram is the sari-making capitol of India. Hundreds of looms are hidden inside of almost every small home, where some of the most beautiful colors and patterns are woven everyday. Many of the patterns have been handed down from generation to generation within families of weavers. Depending on the intricacy of the design, it takes anywhere from three-days to one-month to weave a sari. The workers are paid about 120 rupees a day (three U.S dollars). The saris are then distributed by the loom-landlords to major sari retailers, where they are sold for 3,000 to 100,000 rupees each.

The slide show on bonded labor, also featured on this website, was shot in the same town. I was granted access this time to show that there are no children working at these looms. Click on the photo and I hope you enjoy the slide show.