The Thirubuvanam Silk Handloom Weavers Co-operative Production and Sale Society Ltd.No.Z.322., is the biggest Co-operative Society in Tamil Nadu, producing traditional Silk Sarees with elaborate designs using pure Zari. The Society is situated in the Silk Weavers cluster of Thirubuvanam about 9 k.m. away from Kumbakonam, on the Mayiladuthurai road in Thanjavur District. Thirubuvanman is an ancient temple town famous for Silk Weaving from the period of Great Chola rulers.

This society was registered in 1955 and started its commercial operation on 24.11.1955. Before establishing the society, weavers of this area were working under the control of Master weavers and were getting lower income. At present, the Society has 1836 weaver members and providing employment to 2002 families. The Society is functioning in its own building with 37 sales outlets in Tamil Nadu and 2 in Pondicherry .

The speciality of Thirubuvanam Silk saree is that they are using filature silk for both wrap and weft, resulting in high Quality, Shine, Uniformity and luster. The society is using best silk yarn and pure zari. The silk yarn is dyed in the society dye house itself and given to the weavers as per the design. The weight of the sarees is between 450 gm to 1250 gm. In any type of saree the silk alone weights 400 gm and the balance is that of zari.

The Society is producing sarees from the price range of Rs.3000 to Rs.50,000. At pre sent the “THICOSILKS” society is introducing sarees with a minimum price of Rs.3000/- onwards with modern design and with latest colour combination. They are concentrating on introducing new designs and for which they have formed a Design Committee which is visiting various palaces and collecting the designs for introducing in their society sarees. Further, they monitor the production of sarees at every level (Purchase of Silk yarn, dyeing, Purchase of zari, weaving the appraising of quality) and maintaining quality. Since they are stringent about their quality control as well as innovative in introducing new designs as per the customer taste THICOSILKS has become Number One in Pure Silk and Fine Zari Saree Production and Sales units among Co-operative societies in India .

Mr.S.V.Kandasamy, Assistant Director/Special Officer of the above society said that sales up to June 2009 is Rs.9.29 Crores and the society is taking effective steps to achieve a turn over of Rs.37.00 crores of production and sales for the year 2009-2010.

The groom has been found, the date set; now for the most significant or bridal arrangements – the sarees! The young connoisseur of silk has set her heart on the most exclusive combinations. Some designs are hovering on her mind's threshold. Not for her, the city showrooms. The panjangam (almanac) will be consulted, and travel she will – to Thirubuvanam.

Traditional wedding sarees, medium weight, with motifs a la Kancheepuram. But there's a difference – body and border woven in the same single warp. Look closer and you'll see wedding jeweler too – the neli or toe ring, the vanki – jewellery for the arm, muthu or pearls… these too are woven with zari into the borders.

There are some design motifs used in Thirubuvanam Sarees. They are Mango, Kalasam, Temple , Rudraksahm, Diamond, Neli, Kodi, Visiri.

If the manga-malai (mango Necklace) is a treasured piece of jewellery among Tamil women, the mango motif is a favourite of the weavers. Found in any number of sarees with innumerable variations and embellishments.

Complete with mango leaves and coconut, the kalasam is central to many a Tamil religious ritual. Replicated in different metals, adorning puja shelves, the kalasam finds a place in a silk saree too.

The most celebrated motif of them all. Immersed as he is in the city of a thousand temples, the Kancheepuram weaver can't help but flaunt his heritage – the temple gopuram or gateway.

Beads used to keep count during the ‘japam' or continuous chanting of God's name. In the weaver's bands, beads of gold.

Is a Tamil bride ready for marriage? Yes, if her diamond earrings are ready! The weaver can't help but weave in the diamond motif every now and then.

From forehead to loc, the Tamil woman finds may ways to tell the world she's married – the neli or toe ring is slipped in by the husband when she places her feet on the grinding stone during the wedding.

A creeper, a grapevine…. Yet another of nature's patterns that the weaver draws from.

Another speciality – ‘Korvai' meaning solid or contrast borders. With a series of delicately woven motifs in zari. The three bells denoting the chalangai or anklet could well be followed by the chequered pattern of the peacock's eys, the arm jewelvanki, bunches of grapes, creepers and mangoes… All in one saree ! And the touch of surprise – ‘meena' work or coloured thread in between the zari.

Revel in the plains – the endless brightness of parrot green, the depths of coffee brown, the shimmer of golden yellow.. choose your moods. Or be surprised by the double coloured – the blue green mayilkazhuthu (peacock's neck) the red-or-ange of a lion, the violet green of a new born mango leaf…

Elaborate end pieces woven separately and then skillfully woven together with the main body, without any signs of a joint… the wonder of “Pitni” work.