Friday, November 14, 2008

Rediscovering the khun

There's really no denying it - the khun is an asbsolutely beautiful brocade. Rich as silk, soft as satin, with the coolness and comfort of cotton - what more could a woman ask for!

There was a time when you saw Maharashtrian women everywhere wearing these beautiful khun blouses, with traditional cotton sarees. These days, though, it looks like only the older generation is still wearing them.
.

I guess the younger generation has shifted to polyster and nylon sarees, with matching "2x2" blouses. What a pity. The khun is really a gorgeous fabric, that retains colour and lustre even after several washings.

On a recent trip to Dadar, I bought myself a golden-yellow khun. It was folded into a neat triangle for me to take away. The shop keeper took great pride in folding it correctly, and demonstrated the technique for me to learn (so if any of you want lessons in blouse-folding, just ask!)

I teamed the blouse with a plain rust-coloured saree, and a necklace of amber and silver. The minute I wore it, I felt good. Maybe it was the golden glow of the khun, or maybe it was the pleasure of rediscovering something traditional - but I felt absolutely on top of the world.

This is of course, not the first time that I have fallen under the spell of traditional fabrics. But it's not just me, you know. That evening, my sis took one look at the blouse and said "Heyyyy, this is nice! I want one too...tell me where you got it!"

The khun had found yet another fan.

P.S: For those who're wondering how 'khun' is pronounced, it rhymes with 'bun'

39 comments:

Smruti said...

Hey Deepa, I love reading your blog. I will be there in Mumbai in a couple of weeks. As my parents stay in King Circle, I am sure to shop around Dadar. This time I will definately take home a blouse of khand. Thanks for sharing this article.

Blogeswari said...

Didn't know this fabric was called Khand - I love this fabric.Made pouches (surukku pai) a couple of years with this material for navarathri taamboola gifts

Sunita Mohan said...

Deepa, I love this fabric but I didnt know what its called. Thanks for enlightening me. Where does one get this and what do you ask for at the shop? Do you know of any place in the suburbs where I can get it?
I've flipped for that gorgeous blue with black border in your first photo.

Sujata said...

Deepa,

A small correction. The fabric is called Khan (kh-eu-n).

Sujata

Deepa said...

Thanks, Sujata.

Deepa said...

Hey Sunita, after reading large parts of The Urban Gardener I couldn't figure out which suburb you live in (central suburbs? western suburbs?)

Just walk around in the markets and keep your eyes open :)

If you go to a matching centre, maybe you can ask for Maharashtrian blouse and see what they say?

Ananva said...

It is Khan without the D. I bought 2 pieces last year, one from a store in Matunga Market and one from Athavle Shahade in Dadar BB. If you get a long enough piece, like I did, you could make it into a parkar polka/pavadai for your little one (back in the old days, that's what little girls wore).

Anonymous said...

very interesting...! and you very nice in yours!

jeanne
san francisco, ca, usa
www.worldonaplate.org

Deepa said...

OK, so I fixed the spelling!

Khun
Khun
Khun

There. It is said thrice and now cast in stone!

Anonymous said...

Really nice article. Keep it up!

Kusum Rohra said...

Hi Deepa,

I can't tell you how delighted I am to have stumbled upon your blog :)
Now I have something to look forward to read on days I am busy at work and just want a break. Thanks.

Love,
Kusum

Anonymous said...

This looks lovely. Any chance you can take a closer picture of you wearing your khun blouse? ... it is hard to appreciate how it hangs from these pictures...since it is covered by a sari, I can't tell how much torso it covers...

Deepa said...

It ends, like all good blouses, just under the breasts, baring the midriff.

Which of course, if you ask any of the menfolk in my country, is one of the blouse's chief attractions.

I am past the age of midriff display, unfortunately, and must stick with modest photographs!

~G said...

Fabulous pick! My mum still wears these with her Narayan Peth sarees. :)
Which shop in Dadar is this, if I may ask?

Sophia Ali said...

This has been my favorite fabric..quite intriguing...sadly this beautiful fabric has not been rightly used in designs....

Unknown said...

hi i m a designer n i did my fashion designing from nift mumbai ......4 years in mumbai i used to often see old maharashtrian women wearing blouses of this amazing fabric.later i realised it was a traditional maharashtrian fabric n i feel in love with it.well could'nt do much about it but at the end i used the fabric in my graduating collection.i used it in a very minimal form but i m sure sometime later in life i'll definately use it in a big scale...n show the world how amazing it is!!!

Unknown said...

there is a shop in mangaldaas market near crawford that sells only this!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful saree and blouse. A lady like pose would have been good though!

Unknown said...

I grew up in Indore and saw lots of women wearing Khand blouses.I always had a few in my collection.I loved to mix and match these bloses with Bengal Cotton sarees.
I now live in US and miss wearing sarees.
Recently a friend from Pune gifted me a beautiful bag made from this material.

Anonymous said...

Hey Deepa,

I am a big fan of khand (now corrected to khun) and I stumbled upon your blog on doing a google image search of the fabric (that's how crazy I am about it :)) I am utterly delighted to see Janaki ma'm. She used to teach us Economics in college and was one of my favest profs just because of the way she spoke :) Tell her a hello from me.

Your saree with blouse combo looks nice. And the backdrop decor(don't know if that's your home) with its eaerhy hues is totally classy!

Ciao

Rekha Rajgopal

Artnavy said...

i got here looking for this fabric's name- my kids wear paavadias from it!

Sue said...

Hi, Deepa, loved the 'Khun' fabric. Is there any particular shop in Dadar that sells this fabric?
I have been trying to get it since ages.

Unknown said...

Hi mam!! I'am Lakshmi from Kerala. I always loved the way maharashtrian women wear their traditional sarees alongwith the beautiful karvari nath... I too wished to dress like them. I found out naths in many sites and I did purchase one! I would like to know through which site I would be able to purchase the above khun blouse material. Can you please help me to find out one?

Unknown said...

Hi mam!! I'am Lakshmi from Kerala. I always loved the way maharashtrian women wear their traditional sarees alongwith the beautiful karvari nath... I too wished to dress like them. I found out naths in many sites and I did purchase one! I would like to know through which site I would be able to purchase the above khun blouse material. Can you please help me to find out one?

Unknown said...

Hi mam!! I'am Lakshmi from Kerala. I always loved the way maharashtrian women wear their traditional sarees alongwith the beautiful karvari nath... I too wished to dress like them. I found out naths in many sites and I did purchase one! I would like to know through which site I would be able to purchase the above khun blouse material. Can you please help me to find out one?

devika said...

Hi Deepa I am Devika here from Bangalore l was born and brought up in Mumbai would love to know if khun can be bought online o just love that fabric please please let me know

Anonymous said...

a little more info on the fabric ..

http://theeastcoastdesi.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/revival-of-fading-handloom-tradition.html

www,visitors2delhi.com said...

Hi
Can you give the address of the shop from where you bought the Khana - or Khan. He seems to have a good stock and collection of it. The address / location or a phone number will be immensely useful.

Cheers
Chitra Balasubramaniam

Tausif said...

It's called Khund fabric

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing, I'm currently working on a project for revival of endangered traditional handicrafts of Maharashtra. Do you have more information about Khan textile? Would love to know!

Unknown said...

Hello,
I am very glad and excited to read about blog over kHUN fabric material.I am thankful for the information.I am a fashion designer and looking to explore more in this fabric ,I am curious to know more about Khun .Where are khun weavers in Maharashtra located? Where can I purchase khun fabric in mumbai?Any additional information about KHUN will be helpful nileshdalvi654@gmail.com
Thank you for inspiring!
:D

Unknown said...

Hello,
I am very glad and excited to read about blog over kHUN fabric material.I am thankful for the information.I am a fashion designer and looking to explore more in this fabric ,I am curious to know more about Khun .Where are khun weavers in Maharashtra located? Where can I purchase khun fabric in mumbai?Any additional information about KHUN will be helpful nileshdalvi654@gmail.com
Thank you for inspiring!
:D

Plato said...

Thanks. Can you please tell us more about the way it is woven? A bit about the cultural & historical story behind it? I feen such a fool for being so ignorant about all these things when I lived in India & even when I nearly lived in India.

Plato said...

Personally, I feel EVERY THING Bharateeya is ENDANGERED TODAY. From what I hear, I don't know about you, EVERYTHING that we call INDIAN was brought here from outside India bu ALL THOSE INVADERS who came to "reform, civilize us & bring into our 'lives' the 'lights of the only god' each invader knew. Some times I ask, if all the foods, the potatoes, tomatoes, cloth, mirchi, meat, reading, writhing, language, Hindu scriptures, samosa, jalebi, halwa, pulao, biryani, tabla, sitar, choolha, tandoor, cricket, kabab,morals, laws,& more, all was brought in by the INVADERS (who call themselves teachers & social reformers)what were the HINDUUSHTHAANIS living here eating & doing BEFORE these GREAT ONES came here? And, WHAT was it that made these OH S GREAT MUSLIMS & CHRISTIANS OF THE WEST came LOOKING FOR in INDIA? Obviously, by THEIR OWN WRITTEN ACCOUNTS OF THEIR HISTORY, they had all spent large amounts of monies, & long years trying to FIND & REACH INDIA. What they did once they came here, was, ROB, RAPE, KILL, DESTROY, SET FIRE to EVERYTHING they saw. Then, suddenly, 70 years ago, they began this new narrative, that THEY HAD COME & civilized the Hinduus & so THEY OWN EVERYTHING & EVERY ONE ON THIS LAND MASS. Please, can yu include in your project what you are trying to save IS REALLY INDIAN, or it is WHAT THESE MUSLIMS & CHRISTIAN INVADERS CLAIM THEY BROUGHT? Keep me posted. I have been trying to research this, but have had NO SATISFACTORY ANSWERS... lots of word salds & word jalebis, but NO ANSWERS.

Kaira Sky Girl said...

Very informative . sharing it. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

U can contact us as we are Khan & Illkal Saree Manufacturer. 9380160224. Thanks with regards.

Anonymous said...

We are Khan manufacturer contact us 9380160224. Thanks with regards.

Anonymous said...

Khan manufacturer 9380160224. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Khan manufacturer 9380160224. Thanks