Salwar & Saree (Sari) Retail Clothing Store Directory |
||||
Clothing Retailers Women's Clothing Stores Sari / Saree Definition Women's Fashion |
||||
A sari, saree, or shari is a female garment from the Indian subcontinent that consists of a drape varying from five to nine yards (4.5 metres to 8 metres) in length and two to four feet (60 cm to 1.20 m) in breadth that is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff. There are various styles of sari draping, the most common being the Nivi style, which originated in Andhra Pradesh.
Saree (sari) Nothing identifies a woman as being Indian so strongly as the sari - the quintessential Indian female garment. The 6 yard, unstitched, fluid garment over and around the body, adjusted with little tucks and pulls is one of the most graceful pictures ever. "The sari undoubtedly is the most sensuous garment ever." "And the best thing about it is that it conceals as much as it reveals." The sari is one of the most feminine outfits ever. And that's the secret behind its survival through various fashion eras like bell-bottoms, drainpipe and now low-rise jeans." The origin of this fabulous garment is a bit obscure due to lack of proper historical records in India but one thing's for sure - the sari boasts the oldest existence in the sartorial world. It is more than 5000 years old and is mentioned in the Vedas. Sari (original - Chira in Sanskrit for cloth) is of varied length. From 5 yards to 9.5 yards tied loosely, folded and pleated, it can be turned into a working dress or party wear with manual skill. For the day-to-day dressing of middle class women, a 5-6 yard is comfortable today. The material and the print on the sari can vary according to your choice and the occasion. The common materials for a sari are silks, cottons, chiffons, organzas and georgettes, and the common types of saris are Kanjeevaram (a traditional South Indian sari), Paithani (a typical peacock and parrot motif sari from Maharashtra), Banarasi, Bhagalpuri, Orissa Ikkat, Maheshwari, Chanderi, Gujrati Patola, and Jaipuri Leheriya. "I feel that a chiffon, a georgette and a nice Kanjeevaram is a must-have for every woman." The chiffon is appropriate for a kitty party, lunch or dinner at the club or at the race course, or even for shopping. The georgette can be worn for a cocktail or small party, while the Kanjeevaram can be worn at weddings or extremely formal affairs." Saris are beautiful, and it is up to the wearer to bring out the best in them. The styles of wearing a sari vary according to the region. There are about 10 to 15 types of drapes in India. So, you have the Bengali, Gujarati, Coorgi, Malayali and other styles of draping. The Salwar was first worn by the desert women as a cover to shield their legs from the blistering heat. It was made from coarse cotton and had no aesthetic value whatsoever. It was only during the reign of the Moguls that the concept of anything like a Salwar came about. It was a time to be lavish and clothing became a symbol of social status. The fabric employed to tailor clothes ranged from the finest silks, velvets, chiffons and muslins and it was at this time that lehenga, the sherara and the churidar also took birth. The Salwar came to India with the invasion of the Aryans. They settled in Punjab and the locals adapted the salwar as their traditional dress. It was in Punjab that the concept of the Salwar as we know it today really came about. One only has to look at portraits of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a fearless Sikh chieftain, to see that the Salwar was popular in the Punjab district. Hence today when you think of the Salwar you automatically think about Punjab and Punjabi culture. As symbols of Punjabi culture the Salwar is only second to bhangra. It is the staple dress of Punjabi women and is worn throughout the year in various fashions from the simple day to day styles to the more elaborate styles reserved for celebrations such as weddings and especially Vasakhi.
The sari is usually worn over a petticoat (called 'parkar' in Marathi lahanga or lehenga in the north; pavadai in Tamil, pavada (or occasionally langa) in Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu, chaniyo, parkar, ghaghra, or ghagaro in the west; and shaya in eastern India), with a fitted upper garment commonly called a blouse (ravike in South India and choli elsewhere). The blouse has short sleeves and is usually cropped at the midriff. The sari is associated with grace and is widely regarded as a symbol of grace in cultures of the Indian subcontinent. |
||||
Fashion Industry | ||||
Apparel Search
Add Your Company
Contact Us
About Us
Advertise News
Letter Legal
Help |