Telangana: 'Sircilla Sella' stages a comeback, a rage now

Hyderabad: The kanduva or the sella, the handy handloom fabric that is carelessly worn over the shoulders in Telangana was almost a forgotten fabric, until the Chief Minister, KCR, decided to sport it in one of the press conferences during lockdown.

Refreshing from the usual attire, the sella with thin borders in pink added a novelty and ditto, political leaders made a beeline to handloom stores to get one.

It came as a pleasant surprise to the ailing weavers of Sircilla from where the sella gets its name. Orders started pouring in and even the Chief Minister's Office ordered a few thousands. Even small-time politicians, corporators, local leaders and party workers have started wearing the Sircilla Sella.

Not so long ago, farmers in the hinterland would wrap one on their head or wear it on their shoulders. KCR decided to wrap one around his mouth, a masterstroke says Aswini, a designer. She adds, "What we need is celebrities to sport fabrics and the common man laps them up."

Meghna Rout, a fashion designer and blogger, says, "The sella is an elegant garment just like the stole that accentuates one's personality." "Sella is now a symbol of prestige & culture of Telangana. Promoting the initiative to support the hand weavers of Sircilla is highly appreciable," said M Manikanta, a consumer at the stall in Bowenpally.

Weavers from Karimnagar district are importing pure quality cotton from different states to manufacture different kinds of kanduvas. Cotton is imported mostly from Andhra Pradesh, Guntur and sometimes from Gujarat.

SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES

Sellas are available in different sizes

• 27/54 size costing `100

• 30/60 size costing `150

• 36/72 size costing `150