Bhubaneswar: Textile of Odisha is a reflection of its cultural ethos with intricate weaves giving it a distinct personality. The thread work, motifs and vibrant colours make them rich and desirable that can turn heads, make an unmistakable style statement and also be passed down for generations, making it a prized heirloom.

On the occasion of National Handloom Day today, we bring you seven of Odisha's iconic weaves that make up our rich cultural garment heritage. Women or men, the apparel of these fabrics add a sophisticated and elegant touch.

Ready for a textile tour? Here we go!

  1. Sambalpuri Ikat

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Reflecting the baandha style of craft, Sambalpuri fabrics range from geometric patterns to landscape, potratits and other motifs such as sankha (shell), chakra (wheel) and a variety of phula (flower).

2. Bomkai cotton 

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Woven by the adept artisans of Sonepur district, Bomkai is handloom fabric that has an attached GI tag and is also called the 'Sonepuri' fabric. Bomkai sarees are quite popular among fashion connoisseurs and are must-haves for an enviable saree collection.

3. Berhampuri Paata 

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Also called 'Phoda Kumbha', Berhampuri Paata too, boasts of a GI tag and is famous for its temple-shaped designs along the border and pallu portion. This paata has another distinction: it is draped around Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra in Puri Jagannath temple.

4. Khandua Paata 

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Khandua Paata is noted for the texts of Gita Govinda eteched on it. Traditionally red or orange in colour, these colours are procured naturally from sal trees. This fabric too, is a registered GI and originated in Cuttak and Maniabandha.

5. Kotpad cotton 

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Woven by the tribes of Kotpad village in Koraput, this fabric with a GI tag is renowned for being dyed organically. Vegetables are used to obtain the required colours with black and maroon being the major dyes.

6. Habaspuri

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Kondha weavers of Chicheguda in Kalahandi district intertwine magic with Habaspuri, one of the major cotton-based textiles of Odisha with fish, flower and temple motifs and is also a registered GI.

7. Saktapar/Pasapali

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Celebrated for its prominent double Ikat checkerboard pattern, Saktapar is famously known as 'Pasapali', attributed to Bargarh district in Odisha. Intricate pasaa (chess board) patterns in contrasting colours is its most striking feature.