Himroo is a fabric made of silk and
cotton,
which is grown locally in Aurangabad. The word himroo
originated from Persian word Hum-ruh which means 'similar'. Himroo uses Persian
designs, and it is very characteristic and distinctive in appearance. Himroo
from Aurangabad is in demand for its unique style and design. Himroo, a
fascinating fabric from Maharashtra, is an extra-weft, figured fabric with a
solid ground of satin or twill, decorated with figurative motifs and
manufactured ordinarily from cotton and viscose rayon yarn on a cotton ground.
It is also woven from silk yarn and gold thread on a silk ground.
Designs of the ajantha, ellora caves were taken as the
reference of the pattern of design with which they still make the pattern.
Today most of Himroo shawls and sarees are mass produced by the power looms,
only few use their traditional looms. It is ideal for stoles, shawls and furnishing
material. Most of the designs that are found among them are like ovals,
diamonds, circles, octagons, hexagons of geometrical shapes. Fruits like
almonds, pineapple, pomegranate etc, flowers like jasmine, rose, lotus, birds,
animals and designs of flowering creepers. Also floral inlay designs of Taj
Mahal and Bibi ka Makabara.
