Amongst
the main districts of Maharashtra that are known for exquisite
handicrafts is Aurangabad. The most famous crafts of the city comprise
of Bidriware, Mashru and Himroo crafts. Talking about the Mashru and
Himroo crafts, both of them are fabrics that are made of cotton and
silk. The quality that adds to the appeal of the fabrics is that they
have the same shine that one can see in the satin fabric.Himroo is also known by the name of 'Kum Khuab'. It is very luxurious fabric and has a royal past associated with it. Himroo used to be amongst the favorite dress materials of the nobles, in the earlier days. During that time, the fabric used to be a blend of silver and gold threads. The threads were so thin and fine that the whole fabric used to give the appearance of gold cloth. Himroo is basically used to make shawls and sarees.
Though earlier, the fabric used to be made with hand, the technique has now been replaced by machines. Today, a special loom is required to make the amazing Himroo fabric. Mashru fabric is also as appealing as Himroo. However, its specialty lies in the use of bold patterns and colors. The appeal of the fabrics during the royal times can be judged from the fact that Marco Polo was once gifted a fabric woven in silk and gold threads.
