It occurred to me that I hadn’t got anything for my mom since I ventured into my own business. She deserved something special, apart from being understanding and supportive she has always made sure that I’m so comfortable at home because of which I could focus better on work. And dont they say that behind every man’s success there is woman !! okay now you do not have to go and disect the word success and come after me, this is about Sarees and Moms so coming back to it
I dint have to think too hard as to what I wanted to get her. It had to be a Mysore Silk Saree !! after all what else can the founder of Royal Mysore Walks think of !! apart from a Mysore Special
So off went the mom and son one afternoon to the Mysore Silk factory !!
The Mysore Silk story has always fascinated me. This factory was started in 1912, almost a 100 yrs back by the Maharaja of Mysore to provide Silk Sarees just for the women of the Mysore Palace. These days husbands have a problem taking their better halves out shopping and back then you had a king starting an entire factory to fulfill their need
chivalry at its best i would say !! Mysore Silk Saree is the only 100% pure silk saree in the whole world and they use pure gold and silver for the zari (the border). Did you know that women sometimes get old Mysore Silk sarees melted and get ornaments made from the precious metal that is obtained !! And any woman who has worn Mysore Silk will vouch for its super lightness unlike the other Silks.
The entire process, right from the silk yarn to the complete Saree is done in their factory in Mysore and one can witness it. I have been taking a lot of my guests on this tour, and this time I was busy explaining my mom how the entire process is done, which is quite fascinating. But what really impresses me is that fact that just about 4 yrs back it was decided that this heritage industry should be shut down as it was a loss making one. Since then it has been restructured, the workers have gone from 3 shifts have to just one shift. The productivity has increased drastically and so has the quality. Now KSIC is a 400 Cr profit making industry !! People can just log on to their website and order the Saree of their choice and their are unable to meet the market demand. You talk to weavers there who so proudly showoff their handiwork and most of their kids are studying engineering across the street in the same college that the Infosys founder Mr Narayana Murthy went to !!
After the tour mom visibly impressed decided to buy not one but two Mysore Silk Sarees !! And I wasnt complaining
Guys now that you know what to buy your mom, but then what are you gonna buy your girlfriend ??
Hahahahahaha what to buy the girlfriend indeed ? !!!
A really well researched piece on Mysore with that unique personal touch. Most entertaining Vinay.
Now you have to tell us about when you went shopping with your girlfriend ;ppp
Cheers
Mihir
Vinay,
I decided to take your advice and buy the saree online. Looks like the royalty is still taken very seriously by the company. The saree I liked was some 724 (mind you, their prices are in dollars, not INR).
So, I am going to wait a bit, earn some dollars first before I think of buying mysore silk
Or even better, if you can introduce me to them, I will make their poor looking website into a money churning e-commerce portal and then go for a barter…
Kapil
@mihir, bro.. Mysore Silk bikini laced in gold threads !! howzzat for an idea
@kapil, haha.. I’m sure Kapil u can buy quite a few of them for Vanita even if its $$$
I think for the Mys silk to get online itself has been a culture shock n now u wanna add more spice 2 it huh