An author has been exploring the connection between Macclesfield's industrial past and his own heritage.

Former BBC journalist Vinay Jalla was invited for a private tour of the Silk Museum and Paradise Mill earlier this month.

It was a deeply personal visit for Vinay, who is the grandson of a revered South Indian 'silk doyen', the late Kasetty Srinivasulu, who built a significant handloom weaving business.

This unique ancestry provided a powerful lens through which to view Macclesfield's history.

"As the grandson of a South Indian silk master who dedicated his life to the art of handloom weaving, stepping into the preserved halls of Paradise Mill felt like walking alongside my own family's history," Vinay said.

"My grandfather famously presented Queen Elizabeth II with a handwoven silk garment during her visit to India in the early 1960s — a symbolic gift of tradition and craftsmanship.

"Decades later, I found myself standing in Macclesfield, realising how the lives of weavers across continents were bound by the same threads of perseverance, innovation, and artistry."

Vinay's illustration of Kasetty Srinivasulu (Credit: Vinay Jalla)

advertisement

During his tour of Paradise Mill, which houses Europe's largest collection of Jacquard silk handlooms, Vinay was particularly struck by the history of the female designers who mastered the complex card-punching system for the looms.

He said: "I was fascinated to learn that it was the women designers who were the original 'coders' of the textile world, programming these incredible machines.

"It reminded me of the intricate patterns my grandfather held in his memory.

"It's the same genius, expressed in two different but equally brilliant ways."

Vinay was invited for a tour of the museum earlier this month (Credit: Vinay Jalla)

This universal story of silk craftmanship is a central theme in Vinay's debut novel, Warp and Weft.

Inspired too by his family's legacy, Vinay describes Warp and Weft as 'a tribute to the resilience and artistry of generations of weavers'.

Set in the fictional Indian village of Zarivaram, the book traces the journey of an orphan who rises through the silk trade, exploring the sacrifices and triumphs of a community whose life is woven into fabric.

advertisement

Vinay said: "My visit reiterated a simple truth. Behind every silk thread lies a story.

"Institutions like the Silk Museum keep those stories alive, and I hope my book contributes to the wider global conversation about the importance of preserving silk heritage in both England and India.

"The museum's dedication to preserving this rich history is a profound act of remembrance, honouring the lives behind the fabric.

"It beautifully complements the very reason I wrote my book – to offer a glimpse into a way of life where silk is more than just a textile."

Vinay is hoping his book can help preserve silk heritage in the same way the Silk Museum does (Credit: Vinay Jalla)