Origin and History

source: google

The town of Kancheepuram is also popularly known across the country as Silk city as the economy of the town is mainly based on the people weaving silk sarees. The weavers from this town are believed to have settled at least 400 years back and they stamped a fortunate opinion across the globe as the producers of excellent silk sarees in the country.
Kanjeevaram sarees are made in Silk because this is believed to be the most loved fabric of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu mythology, Kanchi silk weavers are the descendants of Sage Markanda, the master weaver of gods who is supposed to have woven tissue from lotus fibre.

weaving communities - Devangas and saligars weaving silk
when silk trade was started.
source: google

A famous king of the Chola dynasty ruled Kancheepuram between the years 985 and 1014, who took an initiative of silk trade. It was during the reign of Krishna-deva Raya, when the famous weaving communities of Andhra Pradesh, the Devangas and Saligars, migrated to Kancheepuram. The two weaving communities were exclusively acknowledged for their skills at weaving silk. Thus, occurred the historical migration of the entire silk industry in the 15th century, to this city.