The traditional attire of Kerala is renowned for its simplicity and elegance, characterised by its off-white colour and rich golden borders. This attire, known as the mundu, is worn around the waist by both men and women. The typical women's costume consists of two pieces of mundu, called set mundu or mundum neriyathum, with one piece worn around the waist and the other as an upper garment resembling a half saree. Kerala's rich weaving culture produces handloom cotton mundus, which are well-suited for the state's tropical climate. Kasavu mundus have transcended being mere garments to becoming essential attire for various occasions and festivals, representing the essence of Kerala irrespective of religion, caste, or age. Sarees in kasavu mundu patterns, introduced later, have also become integral to Kerala's traditional attire.

Kasavu refers to the border made with golden zari threads. These designs also appear in coloured variations called ‘kara’, and also as a mix of gold with other colours. While various colours and types of kasavu, including silver and bronze, are available today, the golden kasavu remains the most popular and favoured among people. Kerala handlooms are typically made from delicate, pure cotton. Although both handloom and machine-made power loom versions exist, the handmade ones exhibit superior finery. The borders of the finest handloom mundus and sarees are crafted using original golden threads.

Kerala boasts three major traditional weaving centers - Balaramapuram in Thiruvananthapuram, Chennamangalam in Ernakulam, and Kuthampully in Thrissur district. The weaving streets of these villages showcase the rich culture and exquisite skills of Kerala's traditional weavers, who produce the iconic kasavu mundus and sarees. The price of kasavu mundus varies based on the quality of the cotton threads, the weaving style, and the quality of the golden threads used. Today, kasavu mundus stand as an iconic representation of Kerala's attire. Just an off-white piece with a golden border embodies the spirit of Kerala.