Traditional Handloom Sarees: The Fabric Treasure Of India

A saree is something that an Indian Naaree (lady) craves to wear, at some point in her life. We know about sarees in general, but our culturally rich country is home to many, many different kinds of sarees. All of these excelling in their own way. Traditionally, all of these sarees were hand woven to perfection by skilled weavers. Today, powerlooms are used for the same, but some places still use the good old handloom techniques too! We've come across some very unique traditional handloom sarees that you may have never heard about. Take a walk through the article!

Pochampally Saree - Telangana

The Pochampally Ikat saree gets its name from the place Bhoodan Pochampally in Telangana. It is known as the ‘Silk City of India’ and can give a tough competition to the known silks of the country. This saree has perfect geometric designs on its fabric. Such is the symmetry, that if one looks at the design for a long time, it can have a hypnotizing effect on the eyes. It takes 4 people, 10 days to complete weaving a Pochampally saree. It's a lightweight and comfortable saree which received Geographical Indication (GI) in 2005.

Air India cabin crew wear specially designed Pochampally Ikat sarees.

Tant Saree - West Bengal

A lesser known handloom from West Bengal, this saree is usually worn in households. It is traditionally made using cotton threads by weavers in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Celebrated for its lightness and transparency, the Tant saree is characterized by a thick border and a decorative pallu. Motifs made on the saree include chandra (half moon), chandmala (garland of moons), ansh (fish scale), hathi (elephant), nilambari (blue sky) and phool (flower). Bengalis in general are proud of their culture, and famous personalities like Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Mamata Banerjee prefer wearing the Tant saree as their regular clothing.

Kunbi Saree - Goa

Our very own Goa also has a unique traditional handloom existing since centuries. The Kunbi saree is a pure cotton textile of 4-5 yards that was traditionally draped to reach a little below the knee level, with a knot tied on the right shoulder. Formally, it was a red fabric with black, yellow and purple checkered designs on it. It was quite different and unique as opposed to a normal saree. It used to be mainly worn by the Kunbi tribe who were into the occupation of farming, designed to suit the work ways of the Kunbi women.

The comfortability and versatility of these sarees is well known, a feature that sets it apart from other sarees. Many women today prefer to wear it like a normal saree, for high-end occasions as means of formal wear. Hence, it is also produced in 6 yards of length. The makers of Kunbi saree have also experimented with colours and the results have worked wonders! Designers in Goa also consider the saree to be a treasured fabric of the State.

Sambalpuri Saree - Orissa

This saree from Orissa consists of unstitched cloth of 4 to 9 metres that is draped in various styles. An outstanding feature of the saree is the craftsmanship of ‘Bandhakala’, which is the tye-dye art reflected in the weaving of the saree. It is also known as Sambalpuri Ikat. Traditional motifs on the saree include Shankha (shell), Chakra (wheel) and Phula (flower). They are weaved on a traditional handloom and are included in the Geographical Indication (GI) list of India. Sambalpuri sarees became popular outside Orissa in the 1980’s - 1990’s when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi started wearing them.

Konrad Saree - Tamil Nadu

Konrad Sarees are a speciality item from Tamil Nadu that are occasionally worn for high-end functions. They are majorly woven in eastern Tamil Nadu, are famous due to their traditional affluence and use of excellent fabrics. They are wide bordered sarees and depict wedding motifs such as peacocks and elephants, symbolising water, fertility and creativity. These sarees were traditionally seen in hues of brown, gray and off-white. They were also originally woven for temple deities. It is the distinctive appearance of the Konrad saree that sets it apart from the other sarees.

Chanderi Saree - Madhya Pradesh

The Chanderi saree gets its name from a small town, Chanderi, located in Madhya Pradesh. Here, traditional weavers practice weaving textured sarees with exquisite zari work. This fabric is produced by weaving silk and golden zari in a cotton yarn. Motifs on the saree are handwoven with separate needles and decorated with gold, silver and copper. Traditionally, these sarees were only seen in soft, pastel colors but, nowadays, weaver like to experiment with other others as well. The sheer texture of a Chanderi saree is what differentiates this textile from many others. It is lightweight and is a perfect clothing for summer weddings, pujas, parties etc.

Gadwal Saree - Andhra Pradesh

This handloom finds its origins in Gadwal, Mahabhunagar at Andhra Pradesh. The saree is produced in beautiful fabrics and designs of contrasting colours. While the body of Gadwal is weaved in cotton, it's borders are weaved in silk. The pallu and border represent the South Indian culture. It was traditionally available only in earthen colours but now brighter shades are available in the market. Zari work is also seen using gold and silver. The most unique feature of Gadwal sarees is that it can be folded in such a way that it could be fitted in a matchbox! The saree is suitable for warm and cold climates and is worn on religious occasions.

Patola Saree - Gujarat

A textile from Patan in Gujarat, this pure silk textile is often paralleled with royalty. They are made by using the double ‘Ikat’ method, hand dyed and motifs weaved on the saree include parrots, flowers, animals, dancing figures and zigzag patterns. Patola sarees have a niche market since they are very expensive. A lot of patience, labour and hard work goes into the making of this masterpiece, and the completion of a single Patola saree takes upto 7 months.

Interesting, isn't it? Reading about the sarees only makes you think of grabbing one and trying it on!

How many of these have you heard about before? Let us know in the comments section below.