Colors of India: India's Textile Heritage - with S. Ahalya, founder of Kanakavalli

Meet Ahalya, founder of design emporium Kanakavalli, and one of India's most distinguished and successful women entrepreneurs! In this interview, Ahalya takes us on a fascinating journey through the ancient towns and villages of South India, each with their temples and traditions, and many with their own, distinctive approaches to design, color, and cloth. Foremost among the notable sites of Indian textile heritage is Kanchipuram, in Tamil Nadu, home of South India's legendary silk, which is above all worn by women in a splendid traditional garment: the Kanjivaram sari. Ahalya discusses the weaver's craft and the continuing challenges of decolonization in an industry that was once a theatre of India's resistance to colonial rule and remains a potent symbol of her culture today. She draws particular attention to the importance of caring for weaver communities, so that they can continue to exercise their craft and pass on their specialized knowledge to future generations. In the exuberant tradition of weaving in India, as Ahalya explains, tradition and innovation go hand in hand.