Cotton Dhoti/ Mayilkan Variety of Tamil Nadu

Vesti, Panchkattu, or Panchgacchhe are dhotis worn by Tamil men. There are different variations of wearing a dhoti. Pleats in the back are known as gochi, and pleats in the front are known as kosavam. Godakattu is a fabric that is wound around the waist and tied in front without the forming of pleats. Paibatta is an angavastra (cloth) that is used to cover the upper body and is bound at the hip.

Korvai dhotis are woven in silk or cotton and need at least two weavers to collaborate to complete the intricate task. A Korvai is a dhoti with three shuttles, two on each side for the borders and one in the centre for the body of the dhoti. It is worn at auspicious occasions and weddings. 

The Mayilkan dhoti is named after its common motif, a stylized eye of the peacock, and is one of Tamil Nadu’s most prized garments. The Mayilkan dhoti, which is often worn at weddings and religious occasions, is woven in the Salem area of the state on a three-shuttle loom similar to the Korvais.