6 South Indian Sarees You Must Know

6 South Indian Sarees You Must Know

South India is the birthplace of one of the most beautiful weaves in India. Every Indian woman across the world can’t skip this saree. South Indians carry rich culture and discipline with them. In maximum cases, these sarees are draped either in a wedding ceremony or a festival or the most important occasion. So take a look at those 6 south Indian sarees.

 

Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram is a region located in Tamilnadu, India. So the silk which is woven here is called Kanchipuram silk. It is also known as Conjeevaram/ Kanjeevaram/ Kanjiwaram/ Kanjivaram. The maximum of south Indian women drape this saree as a bridal and special occasions. The shine and the work of art make it so famous that it suppresses the other sarees. It is durable and has a rich quality of the fabric. It has been recognized as a Geographical Indication by the Government of India in the year 2005.

History

This famous weaving culture took place in the year between 980 A.C. and 1020 A.C. At this time Krishna Deva Raya, a renowned king of the Chola dynasty used to rule the Kanchipuram city. Under his command, the entire weaving communities from various locations migrated into Kanchipuram and started this historical weave.

Making

The silk is obtained from the mulberry worm. It is the finest and purest among all silk. Then those are warped by the warp frame and produced 240 warp threads. The zari found in this saree are silver and gold. 250 to 300 thread counts can be found in the wept.

The weavers of the Kanchipuram city are so skilled that they can convert the fabrics into a beautiful design. The designs are inspired by the temples from South India.

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Gadwal

Gadwal sarees are originated from the small town of Gadwal in Telangana. Originally, it used to be woven only in silk with intricate zari borders and anchal. Now sico ( i.e. silk and cotton mix) gadwals are also available. Of late gadwals are also being made without zari borders. It is famous for its color contrast and beautiful mixed design. It is very lightweight and comfortable for anywhere drape.

History

In the late 1930s, the commercialization of the weaving of this saree has begun. It was then woven by Andhra (Andhra Pradesh) weavers.  There is also a mythological story behind the history. The popularity of this saree increased after 1946.

Making

Gadwal saree has well crafted Kittu border. Kittu is the process of joining the border and the pallu. It is done after the saree has been prepared.

The saree is woven in cotton. You can not find a gadwal made of pure silk. The borders are designed in pure mulberry silk or tussar. That is why it is also called SiCo saree.

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Pochampally

Pochampally Sarees, also known as Pochampally Ikkat originates from Bhoodan Pochampally in the Nalgona district, Telangana, India. It is a traditional saree. It has been brought from Chirala where the art is locally called as Chit-Ku. The fabric has a unique identity. It has a geometric pattern all over the body.

History

The weaving tradition started sometime in the 18th century in the small villages of Pochampally and gradually spread to the nearby villages. Initially, sarees were made only of silk. Now cotton is also used for the weaving of sarees, dress materials, etc. The weaving technique of the saree is based primarily on the Ikkat style with a unique way of imprinting motifs and designs into the fabric.

Making

There are two types of Ikkat i.e. Single warp and Double warp. In the single ikkat, only the warp is tie-dyed with the weft. It may be either uncolored or one color. But in the double ikkat, warp and weft are tie-dyed collectively so that they create a design.

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Chettinad

Chettinad cotton saree is also known as “kandaangi”. It is the traditional sari of the Chettinad region in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu. It is characterized by its silk-like texture, contrasting border and body colors with intricate designs along the border.

History

Chettiars were the deal makers. They were the traders since the 4th century A.D. They were well cultured, disciplined, and hard-working. Chettiars started this tradition of weaving the Chettinad saree. The communities involved in the weaving are Devanga Chettiars. They are very skilled weaver from the past.

Making

The saree is woven with pallu weft. The checks, stripes, and contrasting color shades are added. Local weavers usually work on simple patterns with bold checks, stripes, and contrasting images and then add motifs.

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Mysore Silk

This fine fabric fits for royalty. The saree has vibrant colors. It can be plain or embroidered. It’s an interesting play of color, richness, and traditional appeal. Currently, I do not have any collection of this saree. But I wish to have one.

History

In the year 1785 and under the command of Tipu Sultan, this weaving culture was born. At that time, pure silk and gold zari were mixed to weaving the saree.
The Maharaja of Mysore built the first silk factory in India in the year 1912. The name was Mysore Silk Weaving Factory. This factory is now owned by the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC), a government enterprise, and exclusively manufactures Mysore silk.

Making

The weavers collect the raw materials from a single cocoon. Then they are examined and measured to calculate the silk density. Various processes like soaking, twisting, wefting, and winding are involved in this saree making.

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Konrad

The saree belongs to Tamil Nadu. You can distinguish by its wide borders and natural motifs like flowers, elephants, peacocks, parrots, etc. The body is woven in checks. It is also called temple saree and mubbhagam saree.

In the 19th century, Arni, a small town of Tamil Nadu, was the birthplace of Konrad saree. The variations of design change according to the different locations. But at present all type of south Indian weaving are done in the Kanchipuram city.

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