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Embroidery on famous Indian saree fabrics has the power to evoke emotional sentiments, while beautifully showcasing the culture and customs of a particular region. The trendiest saree embroidery designs, such as designer embroidered sarees and traditional embroidered sarees, can elevate even flavorless garments to the stature of a nobleman. This extraordinary form of art requires significant knowledge and skill to transform a vision into reality.
Artisans may take more than a month to complete their exquisite and extremely precise handmade saree artwork. The art of embroidery is prevalent throughout the country, from the west's Aari embroidery in Gujarat to the north's Kashida embroidery in Kashmir, the south's Kasuti embroidery in Karnataka, and the east's Kantha embroidery in Bengal. Kantha or Nakshi Kantha embroidery, originally used as a quilting technique, is characterized by designs made with tiny, flowing stitches.
The Kashmiri and Gujarati Aari styles are created using a particular needle with the appearance of a hook on fabric stretched across a frame. The well-known Gota embroidery style, which has its roots in Rajasthan and includes zari and sequin work, is often blended with the North Indian bridal dresses' well-established Zardosi style, which was imported to India by the Mughals and made popular by the aristocracy. Kathiawari and mirror craft are both popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The Lucknowi embroidery method known as chikankari is becoming increasingly well-known worldwide because of its versatility.
☛ Kashida Embroidery: Kashida embroidery, one of the oldest and most traditional forms of fundamental artistry, portrays its ethnic spirit through beads and needlework. It is especially well-known, acclaimed, and cherished in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. With variegated threads and beads interwoven into garments like shawls and sarees, this embroidery embodies the essence and aspects of creation in its simplest sense, incorporating birds, leaves, trees, and a plethora of natural patterns.
☛ Lacework: Any saree's border is an essential component. Sarees featuring lace borders delightfully exhibit the grandeur of sarees.
☛ Thread-Zari work: Traditional Indian, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani apparel frequently use zari, an even thread traditionally composed of pure gold or silver, notably as brocade in sarees as well as other garments. Zardozi embroidery, which comprises elaborate designs and extravagant designs, is achieved by interweaving this thread into cloths, typically silk. The Mughal era has seen the revival of zari, and the seaport of Surat's linkage to the Meccan pilgrimage route was an important factor in the resuscitation of this historic craft in India. Gold needlework was once linked to the magnificence and regal attire of deities, emperors, and intellectual giants during the Vedic periods.
☛ Phulkari Embroidery: The Punjabi term Phulkari, meaning "floral work," is a combination of two words: "Phul" and "Kari," which respectively mean "flower" and "work." The Punjabi women established the Phulkari embroidery in the fifteenth century. It is often recognized as Punjabi folk embroidery and is a countryside artisanal technique. Although the word "phulkari" refers to floral work, the embroidery's motifs do include a broad range of subjects as well as decorative motifs and patterns in addition to flowers. Overall, Phulkari embroidery is incredibly vibrant and flamboyant, adding a colorful touch to people's lives. The Phulkari embroidery is well recognized all over the world.
For saree embroidery motifs, any fabric that is sturdy enough to support the embroidery design and permits the thread to pass through it is suitable; like chiffon, georgette, satin, crepe, silk, cotton, and net.
Pearls, sequins, gold threads, crystals, and other trimmings are also used to accentuate saree embroidery motifs.
Two essential pieces of garments, that go alongwith the Saree, need to be chosen carefully to compliment the Saree. These are:
A petticoat - which is a waist-to-floor garment, tied tightly at the waist by a drawstring. The petticoat color should match the base saree color as closely as possible. No part of the petticoat, of course, is visible outside the Saree, after having worn it.
A blouse - which needs to be tight-fitting and whose color needs to be chosen keeping the look of the saree in mind, can be short sleeved or sleeveless, with a variety of necklines. The blouse ends just below the bust.
Start wearing the saree by tucking its plain/upper end into the petticoat, at a position which is a little bit to the right of the navel. Make sure that the lower end of the saree should be touching the floor, and that the whole length of the saree comes on the left-hand side. Now wrap the saree around yourself once, with the saree now coming back in the front, on your right side.
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 edge 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.
Neatly tuck the pleats into the petticoat, at the waist, slightly to the left of the navel, in such a manner that they open to your left.
Drape the remaining fabric around yourself once more left to right, and bring it round your hips to the front, holding the top edge of the saree.
Slightly raise the remaining portion of the Saree on your back, bringing it up under the right arm and over the left shoulder so that the end of the Saree 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 teh shoulder, by fastening it at the shoulder to the blouse with a small safety pin.
