Tissue Silk Sari

Tissue Silk Saree

The sari is one of the oldest apparel in the world. The ancient Tamil epic ‘Silappadhikaram’ describes the exquisite beauty of the South Indian drapery of the women, namely the saree. Silk has always been a highly revered fabric in India. Silk is considered ceremonial wear at religious rituals and weddings.

Silk is popular from time immemorial and it has been sought after by kings and queens. Silk is known for its softness, smoothness, and luster, graceful and sensuous folds, which lends itself to exquisite designing.

Silk weaving tradition revolves around the saree, which is worn by women in most parts of India. A silk saree combines the glamour and shine associated with silk and creation of a myriad traditional saree styles associated with each region in India. Every kind of silk saree lends its unique flavor to the Indian ethnicity and cultural heritage.

Silk saris are often created with zari work that is handcrafted using delicate gold threads. The pallu of a silk saree is normally adorned by intricate patterns usually made of zari. The border of the entire silk sarees normally contains zari work – the more the zari, the more expensive the saree.

Indian silk saris

Silk is graded in deniers. Unlike cotton, where the lesser the count the thicker the material and higher the count, the thinner the material, in silk it is just the opposite. The lesser the denier, finer the silk and thicker denier produces heavier silk. In India the main silk saree weaving centers are Kancheepuram, Banaras, Surat, Chander, Murshidabad, Mysore, Assam, Tanjore and Dharmavaram among others.

Each saree is traditionally associated with the places where the sari originates. Each silk saree is recognized by its distinctive weave and texture, color, border width, pattern and motifs used and also the timeless heritage that a silk saree represents. While the North Indian silk sarees are largely influenced by the architectural patterns of Mughal periods, the south Indian silk sarees are intrinsically indigenous and ethnic.

Tissue silk sari

The renowned zari brocade weavers of Benaras are known for weaving the tissue saree, which resembles golden cloth. By running the zari in weft, a combination of zari and silk in extra weft and silk in warp, they weave a saree that has densely patterned golden lotuses floating in glimmering pond. Tissue sarees are most popular as wedding sarees. A tissue saree has a glazed shine due to the use of the real gold/silver zari in weft on silk warp.

Benaras silk sari

Benaras is one of the leading silk saree producing centers in India. The Banaras silk sarees are known for their heavy gold and silver brocades. Gold and silver wires are made hair thin by heating the metal passing through minute holes. These wires of gold and silver are used with the silk yarn for weaving.

The Jamdani silk is a variety of brocade traditionally worn in Banaras. It is considered one of the finest silk products coming from the Banarasi loom. Jamevar and Navrangi are some of the other brocade types famous in Banaras silk sarees. The most famous is the Amru silk brocades known not only in India but abroad as well.

Patola silk sari

These saris come from the state of Gujarat in India. They are created by using the resist dye technique. The Patola sarees are known for their bright flaming colors and geometric designs. Most of the designs have folk motifs. The Rajkot Patola sarees are vertically resist dyed while the Patan Patola sarees are horizontally resist dyed.

Bandhani silk saris

The traditional bandhani sarees are made of dyeing the cloth in such a manner that many small resist dyed spots produce elaborate patterns over the fabric. The traditional bandhani silk saree has shrunk because of the low priced silk-screened imitations in modern bandhani sarees. The original bandhani sarees come in two contrasting colors, with borders. Red and black are the most common color combinations.

The Panetar saree is a Gujarati saree of satin weave and Gajji silk with red borders. The most famous of this type of Gujarati saree is called Garchola. The Garchola is the traditional Hindu and Jain wedding saree, which nowadays are made of silk. The number of squares in the saree is ritually significant in multiples of 9,12 or 52.

Paithani silk sari

Paithani silk sarees are from Maharastra state. They come in bright ‘kum kum’ colors with contrasting borders. Paithani silk have decorations in gold dots. Kosa silk is another famous silk derived from Ganeshpur in Maharastra. In this village silk has been produced and exported ever since 1871.

Chanderi and Maheshwari silks

The state of Madhya Pradesh is famous for Chanderi, Maheshwari and Tussar silk sarees. Chanderi silk sarees are known for their soft colors. There is a harmonious balance between the border and the body of these sarees. Normally human and animal figures are depicted in these sarees. The sarees are reputed for their contrasting colors. Maheshwari sarees are known for their elaborate pattern and border. These sarees have exotic motifs in zari and pleasant colors both inspired by nature.

Tussar silk sari

Tussar silk also known as Kosa silk is valued for the purity and texture. Available in natural shades of gold, dark, honey, tawny, beige, cream, Tussar sarees are considered as auspicious. Tussar silk is got from a special variety of cocoons raised from Arjun and Sal trees. Tussar sarees come in a range of colors and decorated by a variety of natural motifs. This type of silk is also produced in the Bihar state.

Embroidered tinsel sari

These sarees that come from the western region are rich in embroidered tradition. The sarees come in zardozi, the gold gilt thread embroidery technique. Today it is an inextricable part of a bridal trousseau. Nowadays cheaper versions of these saree variations are available in metallic embroidery, which is quite popular.

Orissa Sambalpuri Sari

These sarees are known for single and double ikat work. These sarees are sober in color and decorated with curved forms. The pallu of these sarees have animal and floral patterns in them.

Baluchari sari

Baluchari saris are from Murshidabad in West Bengal. The baluchar technique involves weaving untwisted silk thread for weaving brocades. The pallu of these sarees have patterns that resemble miniature paintings.

Apart from the above-mentioned silk sarees, Dharmavaram and Arani of Andhra Pradesh, Kornad of Tanjore, Kolegal, Molkalmoru and Mysore are other famous places for silk sarees in South India. All these sarees come in broad decorative borders, contrasting colors, traditional motifs and some in ikat silk weave. Each of these silk saree is an exquisite creation boasting of tradition and ethnicity atonce.

Artificial silk sarees

Nowadays artificial silk sarees come in many options - embroidered, printed, designer printed, party wear, silk feel gold sarees. These are cheaper versions and imitations of the real silk saree. They are also immensely popular. These saris are designed to give a pure silk feel and look. These sarees look fabulous and imitate a real silk saree. They have woven zari motif, border and pallu. These formal wear sarees are set in single and multicolor combinations. They have a touch of gold color to give a festive mood to a saree. They come in traditional and fancy designs. It is better to dry wash them.

The artificial silk sarees are lightweight; they come in theme prints such as geometrical patterns, art, floral, figures and jungle print. They are available in a multitude of color options. There are casual sarees in artificial silk, which are lightweight and available in an array of colors and prints. The color schemes are vibrant, bold or subtle. They complement any skin color and personality. These sarees have all over print and scarcely any motifs.