TN Polls 2026: Kanchipuram silk industry struggles amid rising costs, labour shortage

The rhythmic clatter of handlooms in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, usually signals the creation of India’s finest silk sarees. But the city’s iconic Kanjivaram silk industry is now grappling with soaring gold prices, dwindling skilled labour, and falling demand amid cheaper machine-made alternatives, raising concerns for weavers and traders alike.

Kanjivaram sarees are renowned for their intricate gold-thread work, mostly sourced from Surat, Gujarat. However, rising gold prices have led to both increased costs and reduced supply, as Surat manufacturers cut production. S K P Govinath, a Kanjivaram saree owner, said, “We are not getting the pure gold threads at the right time, and prices have skyrocketed. Labour availability is also a major issue now.”