Elegance, femininity, uniqueness and beauty - are definitely synonyms of a saree. Indian women go gaga over it! And not only Indian, but females across the world are getting enchanted by the magic of sarees with each passing day. The world is also falling in love with the handloom sarees even more these days. The uniqueness and rich texture of these sarees make people their fan!
So, let’s live the madness for sarees in this post and look at the different types of handloom sarees that we can collect for our wardrobe!
But before that, let us know what exactly are handloom sarees.
What is a Handloom Saree?
Handloom sarees are the sarees that are woven on a loom with hand, one by one, setting the longitudinal and latitudinal yarns while the shuttle goes to and fro. These sarees usually use everything natural and avoid artificial things. Thus the colours used are made from natural dyes and don’t fade away easily. These sarees are environment friendly and sustainable too, as they are intact for years to come. High quality and rich-texture characterize these sarees. Designed by hand, the patterns show uniqueness and excellent craftsmanship.
You can get a variety of Handloom Sarees in India, be it for some special occasions like Banarasi and Kanjeevaram Sarees or for casual wear like Chanderi and Begumpuri Sarees. Handloom Sarees are the choice if you want to have a stylish outifit or if you want to don them to just cherish and preserve the rich traditional culture. These sarees surely give a super chic, classy look!
Types of Handloom Sarees
1. Banarasi Sarees
The number one saree in our list at the moment is Banarasi Saree. Banarasi is a brand in itself. People are crazy over it. Banarasi Sarees are a ‘must have’s in grand occasions. Be it weddings or any other special occasions. Celebrities can be frequently seen donning gorgeous Banarasi sarees with beautiful zari work.
Usually seen in shades of red, but not limited to it, these sarees feel royal with the intricate gold and silver zari work on them. Yarns are dipped in natural colours. Beautiful designs which are highly detailed are first copied on graph papers, then carved on to make stencils which are called jacquard cards. And then the weaving takes place on a loom - ‘tana’ and ‘bana’ (longitudinal and latitudinal threads) are set with the jacquard cards and the shuttle goes back and forth. And that’s how the luxurious feel of the saree comes.
There is a huge demand of Banarasi Bridal Wear especially after many Indian actresses have draped them on several grand events. And trust us when we say, Banarasi Sarees really look very auspicious and royal!
2. Kanjeevaram or Kanchipuram Sarees
What Banarasi Saree is of the north, Kanjeevaram Saree is that of the south. But, only the origin of these sarees is local. Demand is global! Kanjeevaram Silk Sarees are very high quality, expensive and rich-textured sarees mostly worn on special occasions. These are made with pure mulberry silk and gold and silver zari work that comes from Gujarat. Actress Rekha can always be seen donning breathtaking Kanjeevaram sarees.
Kanchipuram, where Kanjeevaram sarees are weaved has that essence of religion and mythology and that essence can be seen in Kanjeevaram sarees. Temple motifs, palaces, deity images, religious symbols, patterns of nature, leaves, flowers, embellish these sarees.
What’s interesting about Kanjeevaram sarees is that, the pallu, the body and the border of the saree are woven separately and then attached together. But still, they remain intact even after years. Kanjeevaram sarees are characterized by contrasting borders. The zari work is often of pure golden threads. Worn on weddings, parties, religious functions and other special events, these sarees are total love for women!
3. Chanderi Sarees
Made in Chanderi, a small town in Madhya Pradesh, Chanderi cotton sarees are very popular as they are perfect for casual wear. Comparatively less expensive, these sarees are light-weight and airy, perfect for summers.
The distinctive feature of Chanderi Sarees is the transluceny, the glossy-shimmery texture. This glossiness is brought by not removing the gum from the yarn. Zari work enhances the saree with animal, bird, floral and coin motifs. These days we can also see geometrical patterns on them giving these sarees a contemporary look. Chanderi silk sarees are often found in light pastel shades and are breathable.
4. Sambalpuri Sarees
Coming from Sambalpur, Odisha, these sarees are pure sophistication and elegance. Donned by the leading ladies of the country like Indira Gandhi, Vidya Balan and many others, Sambalpuri Sarees have a class that is unmatchable. Simplistic yet stylish look with beautiful patterns made by tie & dye method (Baandha art).
These sarees are perfect for office looks as they look so sober. Pasapali and Bomkai are some varieties of these sarees which are quite popular. Designs and motifs reflect a shoreline culture as Odisha is at the shore of Bay of Bengal. Motifs like shells, flowers, wheel and fishes can be seen quite frequently.
5. Kalamkari Sarees
Kalamkari means art by pen. It originated from the art of storytelling where storytellers used hand-painted things to convey the stories. Kalamkari art is also a kind of storytelling of religious and mythological importance. Often, motifs of Gods and Goddesses, scenes from Mahabharata and Ramayana can be seen in them. Using totally natural dyes, these sarees don’t get their colors faded away!
Andhra Pradesh is the major producer of Kalamkari Sarees. The fabrics used for these sarees are Chennur Silk and Mul-Mul Cotton. Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-painted textile in which a pen is used to draw finer lines and apply colours in some places.
6. Begumpuri Sarees
With light weight and airiness, these sarees are perfect for casual outings or even during office hours. The level of sophistication and decency that these Begumpuri Sarees project is fantastic. Characterised by simple body and a contrasting border, you can choose them for your summers. Begumpuri Sarees can be distinguished by the presence of designs and chiur (designs made by wooden pattayas) technique of weaving in some varieties.
7. Bengal Handloom Sarees
There are many types of handloom sarees that are woven in Bengal. Out of which some of the most popular are Tant, Jamdani and Baluchari sarees.
Tant is a cotton handloom saree which is quite light and airy. It is characterized by a thick border, a decorative pallu and relatively plain body embellished with floral motifs. Jamdani is also a feather-light saree, but has more intricately designed motifs throughout the body of the saree. Being almost transparent, it looks absolutely gorgeous. Baluchari is a pretty silk saree with an exotic border and elaborative pallu. It is beautified by designs depicting scenes from religious texts and mythology.
8. Pochampally Sarees
Pochampally Sarees are silk sarees with beautiful traditional geometric patterns. These are light-weight and easy to carry, made in Ikat or Ikkat style. Ikkat represents a weaving form in which the warp and weft are tie-dyed before they are weaved to create any designs on the finished fabric. The designs are usually worked out on a graph paper before the actual weaving. It’s interesting to know that the air hostesses of Air India wear specially designed Pochampally Sarees.
9. Chanderi Pochampally Sarees
A unique blend of both Chanderi and Pochampally styles, these Chanderi-Pochampally Sarees are total love for fashionistas. The comfortability and lightness of Chanderi sarees and the design style of Pochampally sarees make them quite special. Added to that, the glossiness makes you fall in love with the sheer elegance that these sarees reflect whenever you wrap them in style.
For a variety of exclusively hand crafted sarees produced with extreme love and care in the looms, explore LOOMKAR! High quality, rich-textured, comfortable and yet super stylish collection!