Material & Features of Korai GrassKorai is a Natural Product - a sort of thick grass, grown locally for the purpose of manufacturing Mats. This grass has no side effects on the body of the Users. This grass belongs to the sedge family of plants, Cyperaceae. Korai is quite Natural, Eco friendly and biodegradable. Korai Mat gives coolness to human body.Korai mats may be broadly divided into three categories. Coarse mats are rough in texture, relatively quick to weave and may be made using either a handloom or powerloom. Higher quality handloom mats are finer in texture. The highest quality have a texture akin to silk.Manufacturing ProcessKorai Mats are weaved with the help of Handlooms and Powerlooms. Handlooms are generally of a simple construction. Historically, handloom mat weaving has long been a low cost cottage industry and a complementary source of income for agricultural and other rural workers. Mostly women are involved in the process of Handloom Mat Weaving.Korai Mat Manufacturing is a tedious and long process, which is carried out Tradidionally in Tamil Nadu. The patterns and designes are usually fixed by the experienced Weavers based upon their understanding of demands of patterns of the larger market, personal preference of a wholesale Traders and individuals who place a large order.The Korai Mats made in Tamilnadu have cotton warps and Korai wefts. To make such mats the Korai is soaked in running water for up to a week until it begins to rot, the central pith is then scraped off and each stem split into fine strands, dried and dyed. The finer the mat desired, the longer the korai needs to soak and the thinner the weft strands will be. The number of warp threads also increases with finer mats.Coloring of KoraiTo color the Korai Grass strands are soaked in the solution prepared by SAPPAN WOOD or East Indian red wood botanically known as Caesalpinia Sappan, prior to weaving.Sappan yields different shades of red with or without mordant. Natural mordant such as the bark of Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa) and Ebenum (Diospyrose ebenum) are frequently used to increase the binding potential of the dye.Sappan dye along with kaya (Memecylon edule) produces red, violet and black colour combinations on mats made of korai.