High quality Indian sarees provider: What started as India’s first seamless garment, went on to become the symbol of Indian femininity. A sari consists of an unstitched drape varying from 4.5 to 9 metres (15 to 30 feet) in length and 600 to 1,200 millimetres (24 to 47 inches) in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, partly baring the midriff. It is traditionally worn in the countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. There are various styles of sari manufacture and draping, the most common being the Nivi style, which originated in the Deccan region. The sari is worn with a fitted bodice commonly called a choli and a petticoat called ghagra, parkar, or ul-pavadai. In the modern Indian subcontinent, the sari is considered a cultural icon. Read extra info at shop Bengal cotton sarees online.

Each region brings forth a trunk full of saris, with a strong identity and their own traditional designs, motifs, and colours, says 73-year-old Laila Tyabji, co-founder of Dastkar, an NGO established in 1981 that supports traditional Indian craftspeople. Even from village to village, there is a different weave. Every sari has a story about the society and the people around it. It is a history book that tells you about the region, the community, the craftsmen, and the geography of the place. The famous brocades from the ancient city of Banaras, with intricate designs and detailed embroidery using gold and silver threads, take their name from the city and evolved during Mughal rule over India. To this day a Banarasi sari is a must-have in an Indian bride’s trousseau.

The word “sari” means “strip of cloth” in Sanskrit. But for the Indian women—and a few men—who have been wrapping themselves in silk, cotton, or linen for millennia, these swaths of fabric are more than just simple garments. They’re symbols of national pride, ambassadors for traditional (and cutting-edge) design and craftsmanship, and a prime example of the rich differences in India’s 29 states. “The sari both as symbol and reality has filled the imagination of the subcontinent, with its appeal and its ability to conceal and reveal the personality of the person wearing it,” says Delhi-based textile historian Rta Kapur Chishti, author of Saris of India: Tradition and Beyond and co-founder of Taanbaan, a fabric company devoted to reviving and preserving traditional Indian spinning and weaving methods.

Women used to wear regional handloom sarees composed of silks, cotton, and other fabrics throughout the vintage era. Banarasi, Kanchipuram, Garhwal, Mysore, Uppada, Chanderi, and other renowned silk sarees were historically worn for important occasions like festivals or nuptials. Cotton sarees like Patola, Pochampalli, Sambalpuri, Jamdani, Tant, and others were generally used as daily wear. Even the yarns were dyed with natural colors derived mostly from plants such as indigo, turmeric, and other flowers. The Indian saree has been preserved, developed, tweaked, and continues to emerge in many forms utilizing diverse fabrics, stylings, drapes, and colors yet staying consistent in delivering grace, power, and comfort to the wearer. The saree has various traditions associated with it that have emerged over time.

Silk Petalss was born from a career Investment Professional’s love for the rich heritage of Indian handcrafted textiles and artefacts. Her admiration for the beautiful heritage weaves and products saw her travelling widely through interior villages and towns of India, interacting with the weaving community and understanding their perspective and concerns. Awareness about their issues, specifically post Covid19, the need to protect the community and our rich heritage led to Silk Petalss being created. Read additional information on silkpetalss.com.

Six to nine metres in length, the sari is seen on catwalks, in Bollywood movies, and on the streets of rural and urban India. Worn by women from all walks of life, it epitomises grace and timeless elegance. To Aradhana Chandra, a special needs educator and Hong Kong resident from Bijnor, in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, the sari is much more than a piece of clothing. It is a repository of her family history and a reminder of who she is. My love of saris comes from my mother. It is probably the only garment that I ever saw her wear. There was a sari to sleep in, a sari for household chores, a sari to wear to the bazaar and a sari to wear to weddings, says Chandra, 52, who was inspired to create a Facebook platform called Sari Sisters Hong Kong for women in the city to share stories about the garment.