Veshti Weaving
Veshti and Angavastram: Traditional Men’s wear in Tamil Nadu:
A veshti is a white or off-white unstitched garment worn around the waist by men in Tamil Nadu. It is paired with the angavastram or thundu that is worn as a shoulder drape or knotted around the waist. A traditional garment, the veshti-angavastram is worn in different styles depending on region, occupation and occasion. The simplest of drapes is when the length is folded in half, wrapped around the waist and tucked in.
The everyday veshti is about four gajam (Tamil equivalent for yard) in length and 52 inches in width. The angavastram is three gajam long and 36 inches in width. For religious ceremonies in certain communities, the veshti is tied in a style called the pancha kkacham. For this drape, the length of the veshti is 4.5 to 5 gajam and the angavastram 2.5 to 3 gajam. This set is called pathu-aaru (ten-six) or ombodu-anju (nine-five) denoting the number of muzham (length in hands, equivalent to half a yard). Salem district is one of the largest manufacturers of veshtis in Tamil Nadu. Both silk and cotton veshtis are produced here. Salem silk veshtis are renowned for their whiteness and for pure zari work.
