About Banaras Brocade aka Varanasi Sarees

Varanasi also known as Banaras is one of the richest weaving centres of India and is famous for brocade Sarees and dress materials. Varanasi Sarees are considered to be among the finest handloom Sarees in India. These Sarees are mainly known for their gold and silver brocade or zari. It is one of the most used Sarees for weddings.

The exclusive varities of Sarees like Jangla, Tanchoi, Vasket, Cutwork, Tissu and Butidar attracts every woman because of their glamourours appearance and very attractive colors and borders.

The city of Banaras is famous from the time of Rigveda about 1500-2000 BC. Initially Banaras was famous for cotton saree and dress material weaving. But then slowly changed into silk weaving during the Mughal period around 14^th century.

Brocades are textiles where in patterns are created in weaving by transfixing or thrusting the pattern-thread between the wrap. The weft thread passes over and under the warp thread regularly in case of a regular weaving. But in Brocade weaving with gold, silver silk or cotton threads, special threads are transfixed in between by skipping the passage of the regular weft over a certain number of warp threads and by regularizing the skipping by means of pre-arranged heddles for each type or patterning.

Most brocades usually have strong Mughal influences in the design, such as intricate intertwining floral and foliate motifs, kalga and bel. A characteristic found along the inner, and sometimes outer, edge of borders is a narrow fringe like pattern that often looks like a string of upright leaves called jhallr. This is almost a signature of Benarasi brocade.

You may also like Chanderi Sarees

Chanderi Sarees - A Royal Heritage

Chanderi Village near Ashoknagar, Madya Pradesh(MP) produces super light sarees with a oft translucence unique to the cloth. The weavers of Chanderi use Cotton and Silk to create dazzling weaves, distinguished by beautiful borders. These light cotton sarees are ideal for Summer. It is one of the most popular sari among the upper middle class Indian woman. The weavers of Chanderi produce mostly three kinds of sarees - Pure Silk, Cotton and Cotton silk.

In the silk Zari sarees, influences of the Varanasi (Banaras) style are visible. They generally have a rich gold border and two gold bands on the pallav. The more exclusive ones have gold checks with lotus roundels all over which are known as butis.

The history of Chanderi goes back to the Vedic period. It is believed to have founded by Lord Krishna’s cousin, Shishupal. Chanderi village is situated between the hills of Vindhyachal. The eveolution of Chanderi began in 1890’s when the weavers changed from handspun yarn to mill made yarn. Now a day many of the raw materials are even imported from countries like China.

In 1910, the royal family of Scindia brought the Chanderi Saree under their patronage. During that period only the gold thread motif made its presence in the main body of the cotton muslin saris for the first time. It slowly led to the introduction of silk yarn and over the years dobby and jacquard also came into use.

How to Take Care of Your Chanderi Saree

Chanderi Sarees are very light weighted and thin and costly too. You need to make sure that you take care of the saree well. Here are some tips on how to take care of your Chanderi Saree.

    

•   Wash with mild soap or washing gel
•       Use cool and soft water for washing. Don’t wash in hard water.
•        Dry clean for Zari work and Silk.
•        Dry in shade and always do wrong side up
•       Iron with low medium heat and in full open cloth. Never Iron with saree folded.
•      Use hangers for storing rather than keeping one above other. Don’t put pressure on saree while storing.
•      Change folds in regular intervals

    You may Also like to read about Kancheepuram Sarees

Online Shopping in India

Online shopping is becoming very popular trend in India. Even when the entire economy is going through a tough time the Ecommerce industry has grown tremendously. The convenience of shopping from home or office and the payment options like Cash on Delivery (COD) is attracting more n more people towards shopping online. But still a majority of them are confused in selecting the reliable stores and with more than 100 online stores, and everyone claims to be reliable. We are giving a review and feedback of the most reliable and leading online stores in India based on our experiences and feedbacks from friends who used it.

Online shopping is evolving very fast. Most of the top companies are funded heavily and have the cash to provide its customers the best shopping experience. Price wars have started already. Deal sites and coupon sites are also growing.

This is not a pure ranking, just a review about each store which are giving good price and quality and service. 

1. Flipkart

Flipkart was founded in 2007 by two IITD (Indian Institute of Delhi) alumni, Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal. Before founding Flipkart both of them were working with Amazon. Initially Flipkart was mainly selling books. They expanded into electronic goods and gadgets. And now they offer almost all products.

For people in Banglore a Flipkart delivery boy is visible in office everyday carrying lots of packages for delivery.

Flipkart has changed over the period of time. From being a seller of just books now they have 100s of sellers selling almost all items. According to Sachin Bansal adding more sellers to Flipkart has helped them to provide customers with a very wide product range and selection. Flipkart has reported sales of US $100 mn in FY 2011-2012. They have also bought another popular online store Letsbuy.com. Letsbuy was closed and all the traffic to that was redirected to Flipkart.

Flipkart gained popularity mainly because of its fast delivery especially inside Bangalore with its own delivery network. It also provides books and electronics at very low prices.

What we like in Flipkart:

• Good looking site with easy navigation
• Attractive pricing
• Fast delivery
• Good customer support
• Cash on Delivery
• Reliable payment gateway. (Now Flipkart has introduced its own payment gateway Payzippy, which is faster and secure)
• Flipkart can be considered as the ‘Baap’ of SEO in india. In most of the google search Flipkart comes on top.
• Online tracking of order
• Free return policy (30days for items sold by WS Retail and 10 days for other sellers).

2. ebay India

Ebay is one of the earlier evangelizers of online shopping in India. Over the past 8 years, the world’s largest market place has been developing ecommerce ecosystem in India. Estimate is that on an average ebay sells around 20000 items per day. They also have safeguards like ebay guarantee, which offers 100% satisfaction or else a refund of replacement within 20 days.

You can use ebay to buy as well as sell your items. You can easily open your store on ebay also. Ebay has thousands of sellers on it. So one thing the buyer has to check before placing an order on ebay is the seller reputation.

Ebay has a very good buyer protection policy. They also have a secure payment option in form of Paisapay. For payments made through Paisa pay ebay provides complete Buyer protection in case of any complaints in case of delivery and for payments made through other options ebay provides a buyer protection limit of upto 10000.

What we like in ebay:

• Vast variety of items
• Good customer support
• Cash on Delivery (Depend on whether the seller provides it. Not available for all sellers)
• Reliable payment option in form of Paisapay.
• Free return policy (20days for items sold).

A few tips for those who buy from ebay :

• Check the sellers rating and other items the seller is selling to ensure the quality and service.
• Check for other buyers’ feedback on the item you are purchasing and about the seller.
• Try to use Paisapay as payment method.
• Go through the policies and terms before placing a bid.

3. Myntra.com

Myntra is one of the leading online stores when it comes to fashion. It has always spent well on building the brand. It was one of the first online stores to come out with a well targeted TV commercial. Myntra is started by Mukesh Bansal, Ashutosh Lawania and Vineet Saxena, all 3 of them like flipkart founders are IIT alumni.

Myntra has tie ups with almost all top brands in the country. They also have their own inhouse brands like Roadster, Dressberry and Anouk. Recently they also brought a brand HRX in tie up with Bollywood actor Hritik Roshan, which is exclusively available on Myntra.com.  

When it comes to fashion Myntra is of course one of the most preferred site.

Hers is what we like about Myntra

• Very attractive website with separate sections for latest trends and style videos.
• Easy return policy of free return within 30 days.
• Very good customer care- They call you and inform you in case any item is not available due to some reason.  
• My privilege – Shop and earn loyalty points.
• Good in house brands at affordable rates.
• Cash on Delivery
• Very attractive offers and discounts.

We would be happy if they add more locations for shipping as they still don’t deliver to many small towns. 

4. Homeshop 18

Homeshop 18 is a venture of the Network 18 group along with GS Home shopping, Korea (3^rd largest home shopping company in the world). Homeshop 18 has a 24 hours home shopping channel. It then also ventured into online retail with the site homeshop18.com.

Items we would recommend to buy from Homeshop18 are mainly books and electronics items and Home and Kitchenware. We have found Homeshop18 offering the lowest price for many of the books and electronics gadget. They are competing with Flipkart in its own game of selling books and electronics.

Initially we used to read a lot of complaints about homeshop18 and their service. But from early 2012 homeshop18 has considerably improved their service and can be considered as a very good option for purchase of mainly books and electronic gadgets.

What we like about home shop 18:

• Very attractive prices for many of the books and gadgets
• The description on Television about the product and usage makes it easy to select a product
• Multiple payment options including COD and EMI.
• Good customer support and decent delivery time

5. Jabong

Jabong is one of the most preferred site for fashion shopping like Myntra. Started in January 2012 Jabong has grown very fast to become the third most visited shopping website in India. Jabong processes on an average around 14000 orders a day.

Like Myntra Jabong also is for the fashion lovers and brand lovers. Jabong has tie ups with the leading domestic and international fashion brands. You can just go to site and make a purchase or else you can register and then login to your account and make purchases. Jabong also gives a coupon of 1500 INR for the first time registration.

The word Jabong stands for an exotic fruit. Just like the meaning of the name Jabong is really an exotic fruit for the fashion and brand lovers. One stop destination for all your fashion needs at very good prices.

What we like about Jabong:

• Wide range of products
• Very good website and easy product selection
• Attractive offers
• Very good customer care and service
• Special Designer’s section to purchase designer wears by India’s leading designers
• Fast and prompt delivery.
• Esay payment options including COD
• Free return policy within 30 days

Pochampally sarees

Pochampally Saree or Pochampalli Ikat is a saree made in Boodhan Pochampally, Nalgonda district, India. They are popular for their traditional geometric patterns in Ikat style of dyeing. 

Pochampally silk saree manufacturing history goes back to 1970, when it was decided by some village headmen of Pochampally to weave silk along with cotton(cotton weaving was being done since very long back), to make a better living. They have sent two young weavers to learn the secrets of the art to Bangalore. This was the beginning of a revolutionary era in the Pochampally handloom industry, which led to the eventual dominance of the Indian tie&die patola Industry.

You may also Like to read about  Kanceepuram Sarees

Kerala Sari - Kasavu saree

Known as Kasavu sari or Setu Sari

The 'Kasavu' Sari of Kerala is a cultural handloom sari that is made of pure cotton, the color being creamy white or pure white, with detailed or simple gold border artwork done on its pallu. Kasavu saris are hand weaved. The border or Kasavu is made by dipping thread in real gold and then interwoven to create intricate borders or animal shapes or sometimes simple border.

Though Kerala Sari is worn by many as an everyday costume, it is during the festivals like Onam and Vishu, that one can see the typical Kerala dressing when most of the women wear Kasavu sarees and blouse matching the sari border color.

You may also Like to read about  Kanceepuram Sarees

Kancheepuram Sari

Kancheepuram town is also known as Silk City since the main profession of the people is weaving silk sarees. The weavers of Kancheepuram have earned the reputation as the producer of the best silk sarees in the country. 

The Kanchipuram Silk Saree is hand-woven with dyed silk yarn with interleaved designs made with 'Zari' - a Silk thread twisted with a thin Silver wire and then gilded with pure Gold. Technically, the silk thread used for weaving Kanchipuram Sarees is made up of three single threads twisted together.Woven from pure mulberry silk and have an enviable reputation for texture, lustre, durability and finish. Hence, the Kanchipuram Silk Saree is usually stronger (and more expensive) than its counterparts from Arni, Dharmavaram, etc. However, the designs on the Saree itself are what brings it the fame. To compare with other silk sarees, the Kancheepuram silk sarees are very famous in the world. The glamour of the Kanchipuram silk sarees is in its colour contrasts. Temple borders, checks, stripes and floral (buttas) are traditional designs you will find in Kanchipuram sarees. In a genuine Kanchipuram Silk Sarees, body and border are woven separately and then interlocked together. The joint is woven so strongly that even if the sarees tears, the border will not detach.

Kancheepuram sarees are available at a cost anywhere between INR 2500 (US$38) to INR 100000 (US$1,500) or more depending upon the intricacy of work, colors, pattern, material used like zari, gold thread etc.

How to check whether you are buying pure kancheepuram silk?

Take a few threads from the warp and weft and burn them from their ends. When the thread stops burning, a very tiny ash ball might be left behind.Rub the ball in-between your fingers and smell the powdered ash. If it is pure silk, it will smell like burnt hair. Silk, wool, leather and hair all burn alike and form an ash ball. In case of artificial silk, the fibers will flare and burn out quickly there will be neither ash ball nor smell like burnt hair. This silk fabric test is sure to help you while buying silk fabric.

Tips to preserve silk sarees.

• Always refold them every 3 months to avoid tear.
• Keep them in a dry and cold place covered in muslin cloth and always fold in such a way to avoid damage to the zari and let the zari be faced inwards to preserve sheen.
• As these sarees are worn only for 2 to 3 hrs at a time, there is no need to wash it after every use, just airing it inside the house will do.
• You can either dry clean or wash it at home using mild shampoo and we need to wash body, pallu, and border separately.

You may also like to read about Kerala Sarees , Pochampully Sarees

How to wear a Sari

Wearing a saree is perceived differently by women of different ages and of different backgrounds. For many women it is as easy as wearing a salwar. Mostly moms above 50s and young ladies who grew up wearing sarees regularly come in this category. Majority of the younger generation today find it as a big challenge to wear a saree. Saree is not a day to day dress for them because they find it uncomfortable. Saree is only for special occasions for this category.

The most common style of wearing saree is by wrapping one end of it around the waist with pleats in front and pinning the neatly folded other end on the left shoulder over the blouse. This is also known as Nivi style.  Different parts of the country have various styles of wearing the Sari also like Bengali style, Maharashtrian style, Gujarati style etc.

Two essential parts of the attire, which go along with sari, need to be chosen carefully to compliment the sari. These are

·         A petticoat / inskirt which is a waist to floor garment, tied tightly at the waist by a drawstring. The petticoat color should match the base sari color as closely as possible. No part of the inskirt should be visible outside the Sari after having worn it.

·         A blouse which needs to be tight fitting and whose color needs to be chosen keeping the look of the sari in mind.

Step 1

First step is tucking one end of the Saree in the petticoat/inskirt and wrap one full round. If you wear high heels the height of the heels is important in determining where the bottom of the saree should reach.

Step 2

Take the top end of your saree in your right hand and circle it around your waist till you come to the front. Make sure you maintain the same height as you wrap it around waistline. Now tuck the top edge of the Saree inside the petticoat. 

Step 3

Make about 5 to 7 pleats of equal width of 5 inches, starting at the tucked-in end. Gather the pleats together, neatly, ensuring that the lower edges of the pleats are even and just off the ground and that the pleats fall straight and evenly. A safety pin may be used to stop the pleats from scattering.

Step 4

Tuck the pleats neatly inside your petticoat and smoothen the pleats to your choice. The pleats should fall straight and even.

Step 5

Take the remaining length and pass it on to your left, gently round your waistline and bring it under your right arm. Pull over the drape to tighten around the hips and waist.

Step 6

Slightly raise the remaining portion of the Sari on your back, bringing it up under the right arm and over the left shoulder so that the end of the Sari falls to about the level of your knees.

The end portion thus draped, from the left shoulder onwards, is called the Pallav or the Pallu, and can be prevented from slipping off the shoulder, by fastening it at the shoulder to the blouse with a small safety pin.

You can read about the history of indian sarees here

Related Links  Kancheepuram sarees  , Kerala Sarees

History of Indian Saree

The Indian Saree or Sari is one of the worlds oldest and may be the only surviving unstitched garment from the previous generations.  Over decades it has become one of the most sensuous and glamorous outfit for the Indian woman. It has become an all time wear for many of the Indian woman. It is one of the most preferred ethnic wear for weddings and parties.

Saree is now becoming famous around the globe, thanks to the increasing popularity of Bollywood. Saree is also now a medium for the weavers and designers to create artistic weaves and designs.

The Saree has a long history.  In the history of Indian clothing, Saree is traced back to the Indus valley civilization which flourished during 2800-1800 BC.  The earliest depiction of the saree in the history is the statue of an Indus valley priest wearing a drape- Sari like drape covering the entire body, dating back to 100 BC.

The word Sari is a corrupted version of the Sanskrit word ‘sati’ which means ‘strip of cloth’.  

Sari is also mentioned in the world’s longest epic ‘Mahabharata’. When the pandavas lost their wife Draupathi  to the enemies Kauravas in a gambling duel, the victors caught one end of her sari and continued to pull and unravel, but could not reach the end as Lord Krishna came to the rescue of Draupati .

Initially they used to wear the Sari alone. The blouse or Choli came into existence during the Chola Dynasty in the 9th to 13th century AD.

Now there are thousands of weavers across india engaged in the handloom production of saree. There are hundreds of weaving centres across india distributed across various villages including Kancheepuram in Tamilnadu, Kuthampully in Kerala, Pochampully in Andhra Pradesh and Chanderi in Madya Pradesh.


Some of the Famous handloom sarees of India are Kancheepuram Sarees,  Kerala Kasavu Saree, ,  Pochampully Saree, Chanderi Sarees etc

To learn how to wear a saree please check http://fashionmanthraa.blogspot.in/2014/01/how-to-wear-sari.html