Aspen-Gold Banarasi Sari with Woven Bootis and Brocaded Pallu

Figured silks of Banaras are the most sumptuous of sarees. Every Indian woman dreams of getting wedded in one; and given the beauty and splendour of these statement-making silks, it is no wonder why. The saree you see on this page is a wearable work of art. It is fashioned from pure homegrown silk and given the signature colour of spring, a vibrant shimmering yellow. It takes weeks and months of painstakingly executed skill and labour to put together a single, unique Banarasi saree, and this brocaded number is no exception.

While Banarasis have traditionally been made on endemic naksha drawlooms, it is now jacquard equipment that produces the characteristic weave. The exquisite yellow of the foundation is superimposed with booties of red thread and pale gold brocade. More of that brocade could be found on the border and at the edge of the endpiece, a superbly intricate weave done in a gracious tone that complements the base colour of the saree. Wear this on the choicest of ritual gatherings to turn the maximum number of heads.