About Sarees

Throughout history, Indian women have dressed in a long decorative piece of cloth. A sari, or saree, can accentuate the curves of a woman's body but is also far more than a fashion statement. Each sari represents the women that it drapes. The color and type of sari can indicate the region that a woman is from. Saris can be worn by young girls to women in their golden years. Saris are not exclusively worn by Indian women as they are making their way to many fashion catwalks around the world.

History

The word "sari" is believed to derive from the Prakrit word "satticka" as found in early Buddhist Jain literature. It is thought to have originated from the Indus Valley civilization during 2800 B.C. to 1800 B.C. Many gods and goddesses have been sculpted wearing a style called the Odissi Fishtail wrap. The sari is draped around the legs and the Pallu hangs down the center of the legs lengthwise. Today the sari speaks of the resiliency of the Indian culture and their unique way of life.

Identification

A sari is a standard traditional garment in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. A sari is an unstitched piece of material that is wrapped around the body. It usually measures about 13 to 26 feet by 4 feet. A woman wearing a sari bears her midriff. According to Hindus, the navel is the birthplace of life and creativity. In the past, saris were created on a loom and blocks and dyes were used to make floral or geometric shapes. This is less common in modern times. Today, many saris are woven on mechanical looms and printed with a machine. Saris that are hand-woven and hand-decorated are very expensive and are usually worn during weddings and other major occasions.

Features

It is best to become familiar with the parts of a sari when attempting to wear it in certain styles. The Inner Edge refers to the part of the fabric that has the least amount of decoration. The Fall is the lined border. The Pallu is the fanciest pattern or decoration that is shown on the outside so that the beauty of the design can be seen. It is the end of the sari that hangs. The Pallu is the part that is draped over the shoulder. In the past, a sari was made only of cotton and silk. Today the choices are endless with sarees being made of organza, chiffon, nylon and other synthetic fabrics. A sari needs to be worn with other pieces of attire. A petticoat is a garment that is worn from the waist down to the floor. It is usually secured tightly by a drawstring. The color of the petticoat should match the sari as much as possible. The petticoat is not visible when wearing a sari. A blouse is worn on top that complements the sari. It can be a blouse with short sleeves or it can be sleeveless. Necklines often vary and the blouse usually ends right beneath the bust line.

Effects

If you are impressed with the elegance of a sari, here is an easy way to wear it. Starting at your navel, make one complete turn from left to right around your body and tuck the plain end of the sari into your petticoat. The lower end of the sari needs to be touching the floor. Now starting at the tucked-in end, begin to make pleats in the sari about 5 inches deep. Hold them close together so that they are straight and even. Create 7 to 10 pleats this way. Tuck these pleats into the waist to the left of your navel. Make sure all of your pleats are facing towards the left. Drape the rest of the material around your entire body once again and bring the fabric up under your right arm and over the left shoulder. This fabric should hang down to knee level. This end of the sari is thus draped and should be fastened to the shoulder of the blouse with a safety pin. A sari highlights the breathtaking beauty of a woman's body, regardless of age or body type.

Considerations

For those that often wear jeans and a t-shirt, a sari may look burdensome. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is an essential item in an Indian woman's wardrobe. There is a good reason why Indian women have embraced saris. A sari is a staple in fashion that is easy to wash and to clean. Although it may never go out of style, a sari may have phases in which women prefer a certain color or when some borders are preferred over others. A sari is versatile enough to carry out daily household chores or as a graceful adornment to wear for special occasions. Certain colors and fabric are worn according to the occasion. Women wear brocade during moments of celebration. Colorful silk saris woven with radiant shades of gold are seen often during festivals. White saris are reserved for grim occasions when a family member passes on. Those that offer the family condolences can also wear white to show their empathy. Indian brides often wear bright shades of red. Different regions in India offer their own unique weave and designs. Saris from West India include Bandhani, Patola, Gujarati Brocade, Paithani, Chanderi and Maheshwari. Saris from North India include Banaras Brocade and Kota Dori. Saris from South India are Kanjeevaram Saree and Konrad Saree. Saris from East India are Baluchari Sarees