UDUPI COTTON SAREES ORIGINATED IN THE MID OF 1800S, THE UDUPI HANDLOOM SAREES ARE KNOWN TO PROVIDE COMFORT IN THE HOT CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF TULUNAD REGION AND ARE A MAJOR TRADITIONAL SAREE OF WOMEN FOLKS OF SOUTH KARNATAKA REGION. A UNIQUE PRACTICE OF APPLYING STARCH TO THE WARP IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT THE YARN FROM ABRASION IN THE HEALDS AND REED OF THE MALABAR FRAME LOOMS IS UNIQUE TO UDUPI COTTON SAREES.