Madurai Sungudi/ Tie-Dye of Tamil Nadu

Madurai Sungudi is a cotton fabric produced in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, that is traditionally produced using the tie and dye (natural dyes) technique by craftsmen who migrated to Madurai in the 17th century under the patronage of King Thirumalai Naicker. The fabric is most commonly used to make saris, but it is also used to make blouses, salwars, shawls, handbags, bed sheets, and pillow cases.

In recent years, in response to strong competition from other textile fabrics, this product, known colloquially as “sungudi,” has been produced using new designs and techniques of block printing, wax printing, and screen printing to satisfy industry demand.