[3] In the late nineteenth century, competition from British made textiles led Indian weavers to invent new types of garments.

[5] Hence, a second softer variety of jamakkalams were introduced that were made of artificial silk threads enabling weavers to weave different kinds of border designs.

The hand-looms are owned by trade merchants who procure raw materials such as thread from neighboring cities of Coimbatore, Salem and Karur.

[10] The weaver operates two pedals with his legs while enabling the hands to move the shuttle across to produce the weaving pattern.

Competition from blankets produced in Solapur, Maharashtra and cheap imports from neighbors China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka has resulted in drop in demand for Bhavani jamakkalams.