What is Patola ?
Many centuries ago a temple priest in Patan, Gujrat did an unforgivable act as he stopped King Kumarpal of the Solanki dynasty and Queen to enter the temple as Queen was wearing a Patola Saree which was second-hand and not pure. The King said that he had bought it from a Merchant in his Kingdome but the priest said Patola sarees are only made in Jalan, Maharashtra. King Kumarpal invited about 700 families of Patola weavers from Jalan in South Maharashtra to settle down in Patan in North Gujarat and since then Patola has been synonymous with prestige and honour. The textile known as Patola forms the traditional garb of a Gujarati bride. The term 'Patola' is derived from the Sanskrit word pattal (a spindle shaped gourd). Its technique is also complicated. The weft and the warp are dyed separately, before weaving, according to the selected design. Thereafter, as the weaving takes place, exact intended designs emerge. Due of its complicated manufacturing process, very few designs are available. Patola is classified according to the designs like Wadi Bhaff which has a flowering creeper motif or 'Nari-Kunjar' in which motifs of female figures and elephants appear. As very few families are remaining in Patan, the production of the each saree takes 4-12 Months and its quite expensive .The colours used in the Patola of Patan are so fast that a Patola may get torn or worn out but its design would never fade.