Geeta Padmanabhan. “Korvai” is a simple Tamil word meaning “in sync”. But in Tamil Nadu's textile circles the mere mention of the word sparks passionate arguments about heritage, history and handlooms, about tradition being replaced by “cheap” substitutes. korvai saree's border and pallu are the same colour, he says. They are in bright contrast to the “body” which is in a single or a family (shades) of colours with tonal contrasts. Weavers use the ancient craft of three-shuttle weaving and interlocking weft to get this effect.