Printed Sarees

Fabric printing is a complex, specialized artistic expression that focuses on manual labor and carefully polished technologies. It entails applying color(s) to a woven fabric in conformity with a specific arrangement or motif, which is generally produced with stencils. In opposition to the European traditions of printing, most of which specialized in embroidery and employed a restricted spectrum of lavish colors, Indian techniques were handmade but also embraced a substantial percentage of many other trends and patterns, notably tie-dye, screen, and block prints. There are some suggestions that printing on fabric dates all the way back to the Indian Indus Valley civilization, in addition to the earliest evidence of weaving resources to create cloth. India's inventiveness and proficiency in textile printing are considered to be a highly distinct artistic medium. It has a respectable global reputation since a large chunk of its present exports are composed of this craft. Locally, too, all stylish women greatly value and constantly pursue the cultural importance of weaving and printing.

Different regions of India possess their own unique cultural and historical traditions some of which are mirrored in the diversity of printing patterns used over the fabric. In regards to the processes, tones, and patterns they utilize, artisans from different Indian states create art that symbolizes the nation's landscape, intellectual traditions, and aesthetic sensibilities. Ikat from Orissa, Bandhej and Bandhani from Rajasthan, Bhagalpuri from Bihar, Patola from Gujarat, Batik from West Bengal, and many more of these states, especially the communities within them, have established expertise in particular designs. Broadly stated, this is a consequence of the assets that were available in their natural vicinity.

Famous Types of Saree Prints in India

1. Kalamkari Print: A sort of hand-printed cotton fabric is Kalamkari. The terminology "kalamkari" pertains to the ancient technique of hand painting with just a tamarind pen and organic pigments. Kalam denotes pen in the literal meaning of the term, while Kari, which is based on a Persian word, denotes workmanship. A few of the patterns found in this unique style of art known as Kalamkari include sacred characters, peacocks, intricate patterns, and flowers from the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Kalamkari is a creation of the narrative category. People used it to wander between communities in distant history and tell tales; some of them painted them on canvases.

2. Digital Print: Beyond these well-known conventional methods, textile design printing generally varies in motifs and embellishments, mainly because of the evolution of fashion philosophies from the past to the present day. The advancement of digital printing on fabrics over history demonstrates positive regard for the craft's heritage. It has explored combinations of trendy hues and contemporary motifs whilst remaining faithful to traditional elements and maintaining those playfully restricted within apparel designs. As abstract and geometric patterns are becoming increasingly prominent, more conventional motifs like mythological and traditional art, flowers, birds, paisley, Warli, and Madhubani motifs remain to be coveted. The diversity of fabrics also has an impact on the printing processes, based on the type of kurta, salwar, lehenga, or saree printing themes, as some fabrics are ideally adapted for only certain processes and remain distinctive to their region of origin, rendering them even further of a novelty. A multitude of jute, cotton, art silks, crepe, jacquard, viscose, satin, georgette, linen, and faux textiles were among those fabrics.

FAQS

Q1. What state is famous for saris?

South India, Bengal, Maharashtra, and Gujarat are the top states that contribute to India's handloom. 

Q2. Why are printed sarees so popular?

They are available in varied colors and patterns and leave the wearer feeling confident and exclusive.

HOW TO DRAPE A SAREE

STEP 1

Two essential pieces of garments, that go alongwith the Sari, need to be chosen carefully to compliment the Sari. These are:

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• A petticoat - 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 petticoat, of course, is visible outside the Sari, after having worn it.
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• A blouse - which needs to be tight-fitting and whose color needs to be chosen keeping the look of the sari in mind, can be short sleeved or sleeveless, with a variety of necklines. The blouse ends just below the bust.

STEP 2

Start wearing the sari 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 sari should be touching the floor, and that the whole length of the sari comes on the left-hand side. Now wrap the sari around yourself once, with the sari now coming back in the front, on your right side.

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 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.

STEP 4

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.

STEP 5

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 sari.

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 teh shoulder, by fastening it at the shoulder to the blouse with a small safety pin.