Sri Balaji Handloom Society

Sri Balaji Handloom Society is located at No. 46 on Anju Street in Vadasery. It’s a neighborhood where you can hear the sound of looms coming from a lot of houses. Our place is where several of us bring the things we’ve woven. It’s a cooperative setup, so it’s not just one person in charge. The building is quite old and the walls could use a fresh coat of paint. Inside, it’s mostly stacks of hand-loomed cloth and towels. You can see the thread bits on the floor and smell the yarn. We spend our days sorting through the pieces and making sure everything is counted correctly. It’s quiet work for the most part. We don't have a big storefront with lights. If the door is open, you can just walk in. Most of our regular buyers are people from the nearby towns who have been coming here for decades. We don’t use any modern machines, just the traditional ones that have been passed down through families. It takes longer that way but it’s what we know how to do. Sometimes the power goes out and we just sit outside on the steps until it comes back. We aren't trying to compete with the big factories. We just want to keep the local weaving tradition going in our own small way. It’s a simple life for us here on Anju Street.