Kalamkari is a traditional Indian textile art that involves hand-painting or block-printing intricate designs on cotton or silk fabrics. The word “Kalamkari” is derived from the Persian words “kalam,” meaning pen, and “kari,” meaning craftsmanship or work. Thus, Kalamkari literally refers to artwork created with a pen. It is especially associated with the regions of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and is known for its detailed patterns, natural colours, and storytelling themes. The art traditionally uses a bamboo or date-palm pen, which is used to draw fine outlines and fill them with natural dyes. The fabric generally undergoes several stages of washing, treating, drawing, dyeing, and drying. Natural substances such as indigo, madder, pomegranate rind, myrobalan, and other plant-based materials are used to obtain different colours. Black is commonly produced using a mixture containing iron and jaggery, while red, yellow, and blue are obtained from natural vegetable and mineral sources.