Sarees

The Chikan Saree of Lucknow is perhaps one of the most popular embroidered saree in India. It has a certain grace and elegance, which ensures that it never goes out of style.

Chikan is a traditional embroidery style. It is a form of hand embroidery with pattern, of predominantly different designs, stitched using untwisted white cotton or silk (and now rayon) threads on the surface of the fabric. It is said to have been originally introduced by Nur Jahan, the beautiful wife of the Mughal emperor, Jahangir. It has since evolved and attained its glory and perfection in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Chikan Sarees are perfect for any kind of regular occasion. Chikan sarees are simple but give a classy look to anyone who wears it.

Fabric in Chikan Saree

 Cotton
 Chiffon

Katan, a thread, prepared by twisting a different number of silk filaments according to requirement gives a firm structure to the background fabric. Katan is a plain woven fabric with pure silk threads. It consists of two threads twisted together and is mostly used for the warp of light fabrics.

Tussar (a.k.a Kosa silk), is valued for its purity and texture. It is drawn from cocoons especially grown on arjun, saja or sal trees. Available in natural shades of gold-pale, dark, honey, tawny, beige and cream, Tussar is considered an ideal as well as auspicious wear for marriages, religious ceremonies and other important social functions. (The original rich gold shade Tussar is sometimes dyed, producing colours of a very special hue and depth.)

Tasar fabrics come from Birbhum, Bankura, Murshidabad, Hoogly and Nadia districts.

The ‘Batik’ prints originating from Javanese wax-designing, revived in Santiniketan. Originated in India, the art of making batik sari has come a long way from a mere handicraft. To make batik sairs clothing are decorating by covering a part of it with a coat of wax and then dyeing the cloth. The waxed areas keep their original color and when the wax is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed areas makes the pattern. The floral designs are mostly seen on batik sarees.

Tangail Saree is a renowned handicraft product of West Bengal. It is woven mostly in Shantipur, Dhaniakhali, Bagampur and Farasdanga. This saree is known for its comfort and elegance.

Tangail Saree contains tiny repeating patterns, giving the feel of an embroidery work. Its borders are adorned with designs depicting temples and the patterns seen on the ‘rudraksha’ (a bead used for religious purposes). This saree basically comes in two varieties; one is a made from cotton while the other from silk. The cotton saree is light colored and is worn mostly in summer. The silk saree features dark shades and is mostly preferred during special occasions.

The Vishnupuri Sarees are the handloom sarees from West Bengal. They are generally the whole saree in which is depicted one epic or folktale. The Vishnupuri Sarees have intricate artwork. They are Baluchari silk saree of majantha color with kathan border butta and big pallu.

The Dhoop chhaon (double shade) sari of Bhisnupur are so named due to the intricacy of colours that play on it. In Bishnupur,(West Bengal) Dhoop Chhaon Saree is a famous textile product.‘Dhoop Chhaon’ literally means ‘double shade,’ which refers to the apparent difference in color when seen from different angles or lights. The borders of the saree contain patterns of small yellow flowers. This saree is woven from silk.

Vishnupur is also known for its silk (tussar), particularly the Baluchari Sarees.

Murshidabad in West Bengal is the home of an old and reputed silk dyeing tradition that is still thriving today.Murshidabad silk sarees are machine loomed Bengali silk, which has a china silk like finish but is more textured. The cloth is fine guage and lustrous, often printed with delicate Bengali tribal style prints or classic Kashmiri inspired designs.

A Kantha is a type of sari popular in West Bengal, known for its delicate embroidery. Kantha is really the name for the embroidery itself, rather than the sari per se. Any garment or cloth with kantha embroidery (which forms or outlines decorative motifs with running stitch) is a kantha garment.

Kantha, the name is associated not with the fabric used in saree but with the embroidery. It is actually the name of the embroidery. Any saree embroidered with Kantha embroidery is a Kantha saree.

The Korial lal paar sari is identical to the Garad except that the red of its border is intense and solid.
The weaving and wearing of these saris is associated with Durga Puja, and therefore has a seasonal market.

The Garad is a type of silk traditionally woven in Bengal. t comprises plain red borders set against a smooth natural ground, with widely spaced motifs (generally paisleys) scattered diagonally from feet to waist. This is also regarded as one of the most pure fabrics, hence suited for wearing for special occasions and religious ceremonies.

The women of Bengal normally during the pujas wear `garod` sarees with a variety of designer blouses. ‘Garod’ meaning white refers to the silk which has not been dyed. According to the historical evidences, in the past, the local Raja of Bengl would be ritually draped in this saree during a pivotal part of the festival.