Sarees

Balaramapuram is a small village in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, South India. This village is famous for saree making. The Balaramapuram sarees are exclusively made in the small village of Balaramapuram in the outskrits of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) city.

The weavers use a primitive type of throw-shuttle pit looms for the production of exclusively cotton fabrics with pure zari. They do not use any type of improved appliances such as Dobby, Jacquard, Jala, etc. for the production of designs for cloth with extra warp and extra weft. Identical appearance of designs, including warp and weft stripes on the face and backside of the fabric is obtained by this technique of weaving.

Mysore Silk is a form of Karnataka Silk and it is one of the purest forms of silk. The shimmering effect of the Mysore Silk Sarees and the Bangalore Silk Sarees is one unique characteristic of Karnataka Silk and attracts the customers.

Mysore Silk is a trademark for the silk sarees produced by KSIC (Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation). The distinguishing feature of this saree is the usage of pure silk and 100% pure gold zari (a golden coloured thread containing 65% of silver and 0.65% of gold).

Irkal Saree is a traditional sari with kasuti embroidery from Karnataka.

Ilkal saree is a traditional form of saree, which is a common feminine wear in India. Ilkal saree takes its name from the town of Ilkal in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka state, India.

Kornadu Sarees are a mix of cotton and silk and are woven with a blue cotton yarn and a silk yarn in several colours other than blue. The border motifs are varied and the body of the sari has checked or striped patterns.

The Kornadu saris are fascinating in their fusion-display of cotton and silk.

The saris are woven in a blue cotton yarn together with a silk yarn in other multiple shades. The motifs in the sarees are varied and the body of the sari either bestowed with checks or stripes. These saris are used as daily comfort wears.

The Satkalam Sarees with Zari falls in the category of silk sarees.

The Satkalam Sarees with Zari are manufactured in Bangalore. These wine red colored Satkalam sarees harbour typical South Indian designs like mangoes, birds, creepers. The Satkalam Sarees have a zari border with rich pallu.

Jamevaar are most unique. Like the finest paisley design, very intricate, largets motifts, orient designing, Indian culture woven in weaves of Jamavar in Kashmir, India. Pashmina Jamavars, jamevaar saris are hot fashion since centuries. Recommended by the world's leading fashion designers, a jamevaar sarees, Pashmina Jamavar is still a fashion amongst the rich, bold and beautiful people of UK, Europe, USA and the rest of the world.

The base of the Jamawar was always wool-with perhaps addition of a little cotton. The brocaded parts were woven in silk or pashmina. Most of the designs were floral, with the kairy or paisley as the predominant motif.

Sarees made by the oldest form of creating patterns on a plain piece of cloth.

Bandhani work is a type of dyeing practiced mainly in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, India. Sometimes it is also referred to as Bandhani art or Bandhani art work. The term “bandhani” derives its name from a Hindi word Bandhan which means tying up.

The main colours used in Bandhani are natural. In fact all colours in bandhani are dark, no light color is used, and the background is mostly in black / red cloth.

Bandhni was introduced in Jamnagar when the city was founded 400years ago. This city has now become one of the principal centers of bandhni, creating new pattern and experimenting with modern colors.

The Bandhani work has been exclusively carried out by the Khatri Community of Kutchh.

These Gujarati Sarees are extremely expensive and are virtually extinct.

The main distinguishing characteristics of Gujarati Brocade Saree are: Butis (circular designs) woven into the field in the warp direction instead of the weft, resulting in their lying horizontally instead of vertically on the saree when draped.

Floral designs woven in coloured silk, against a golden (woven zari) ground fabric. Although such ‘inlay’ work is a common feature in many western Deccan silks, the Gujarati work usually has leaves, flowers and stems outlined by a fine dark line.

These are extremely expensive and virtually extinct. The main distinguishing characteristics of the Gujarati Brocade Saree:

Patola silk is often termed as the queen of all silks. Patola sarees of Gujarat are one of the finest hand-woven sarees produced in India today. The place associated with Patola is Patan.

This is a specialty of Patan, and is famous for extremely delicate patterns woven with great precision and clarity. Besides Patan, Surat is acclaimed for velvets with patola patterns.

Tanchoi sarees are the tratidional sarees of Surat. The weavers of Gujarat are known for weaving this unique variation of silk sarees in India.

These textiles are based on satin weaving. The base is satin and the extra weft floats are merged into the fabric.

As per history of Tanchoi sarees, the tanchoi brocades are originated from China. Tanchoi was brought to India from China by the three (Parsi) brothers named Choi, who settled down in Surat to evolve a unique fabric - a harmonious blend of Indian and Chinese styles. According to a connoisseur, “The tanchoi is a densely patterned heavy fabric with no floats on the reverse; the unused threads are woven into the foundation at the back.