The scarf of Kalamata and the Kalograion Monastery

The famous scarves of Kalamata are still weaved on the wooden looms of the Kalograion Monastery, along with vestments, curtains, embroideries, etc. They still remind us of former centuries when Kalamata had evolved into a real “silk city”.

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The art of weaving, mainly exercised by women, enjoyed glory days in Kalamata, which became a real “silk city”. In the 18th and 19th centuries, there were organised family businesses, supplying greater export markets. The city was famous for its silk products, with it originally supplied the courts of the aghas of the Ottoman empire. The “gauze” of Kalamata and its “messina”, the silk bolt of cloth, which the scarves are weaved with, were on high demand in the Western markets.

The Kalograion Monastery (or Saints Constantine and Helen Monastery), founded in 1796, was a leader in this section, since it was there that the masterful processing of silk began, which would become the “trademark” of Kalamata.  

The nuns concerned themselves exclusively with sericulture and silk works. In fact, at some point they produced 3 tons of silk per year, and the nuns had 100 apprentices. As mentioned by the nuns, there isn’t sericulture in the area any longer, and the thread now comes from Soufli.

Some of the big wooden looms, which made the scarf of Kalamata famous in markets around the world, still operate in the monastery’s western wing. The nuns put them daily in motion and mainly weave clergy robes, handiworks, sheets, curtains, cotton and woollen wefts. 

You can check them out and buy them at the Showroom-Shop. 

The catholicon of the monastery is dedicated to Saints Constantine and Helen, and it was built on the ruins of a temple of the 13th century. 

(14 Mystra Str., tel. 27210 22856).

Scarves of Kalamata are mainly for sale at shops surrounding the metropolitan church of Ypapanti, along with other local commercial products. 

The scarf of Kalamata has served as inspiration for lyrics for several songs like the famous: 

When you go to Kalamata
and God willing you come back
bring me a scarf
to wear around my neck
oh dear, made of silk.

And of course, Kalamatianos dancers hold each other by it.

Location

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