Bhulia · Meher Community
Our Artisans
The hands that weave centuries of tradition
Behind every Sambalpuri saree is a family. The Bhulia (Meher) community of Western Odisha has practised the Bandha (IKAT) craft for generations, passing pattern knowledge from parent to child. Sambalbhoomi works with over 1,200 weaving families across five districts of Western Odisha.
Weaving Districts We Source From
Sambalpur
Silk IKAT, Bomkai
Bargarh
Cotton IKAT, Barpali weaves
Bolangir
Mixed IKAT, Saktapar
Sonepur (Subarnapur)
Fine cotton & silk blends
Boudh
Pasapali (chess-board) patterns
The Bandha Technique
Bandha is a resist-dyeing technique (IKAT) where yarn is bound and dyed before weaving. The weaver must visualise the complete design before setting the loom — there is no correction once the yarn is fixed. A single saree may take three days to three months depending on the complexity of the pattern.
Traditional Motifs
How We Support Our Weavers
- 1Upfront payment at the time of sourcing
- 2Health insurance for enrolled weaving families
- 3Child education support via NGO partnerships
- 4Raw material sourcing assistance
- 5Training programmes for next-generation weavers
Support a Weaver Today
Every saree you buy directly supports an artisan family in Western Odisha.
Browse Sarees