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Sarees are a type of clothing worn in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They are long pieces of cloth worn draped in various styles over a blouse and petticoat. Sarees range in length and are made from a variety of fabrics, with ornate decoration. Handmade sarees are declining in India but are in demand for export. There are many different styles of sarees and ways of covering them.
Sarees are a type of clothing worn throughout India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They are also known as sarees or podavis, depending on the spelling and region. Sarees are basically long pieces of cloth that are worn draped in various styles around the body. Sarees are usually worn over a blouse and petticoat, to cover the upper body and prevent the sari from sticking to the skin.
Sarees range in length from approximately five yards (4.5 meters) to nine yards (8 meters), depending on the style. Traditionally, the Brahmin caste wore longer sarees while the others wore shorter sarees. Sarees are made from a variety of different fabrics, from thick cotton at the cheapest end of the spectrum to incredibly fine silk at the most expensive, with synthetic materials like nylon and polyester constituting the middle ground. Folklore holds that the finest silk sarees were so thin that they could be passed through a small ring, the kind worn on a woman’s finger.
The most basic sarees are a single length of cloth with a rough end and a decorated end. The decoration of the saree depends on its purpose and the amount of time it takes to create it. Peasant sarees for everyday wear are often very simply decorated, with simple lines or stark patterns. The most beautiful sarees make use of sometimes incredibly ornate decorative work, through the tie, weaving of colored threads, sometimes even gold or silver, and embroidery.
Many modern, mass-produced sarees use synthetic materials that are woven into patterns by machine. These materials have the convenience of not needing to be ironed, but are generally less fine in craftsmanship than handcrafted sarees. While the demand for handmade sarees has declined in recent years in India, an increase in global demand is creating a new niche market for handwoven sarees for export.
There are many different styles of sarees and ways of covering them, from the Kandyan style of Sri Lanka to the widely popular nivi style of India. Basic draping involves wrapping the sari around the waist and placing the decorated end over the shoulder; Different styles dictate where the parts of the sari are placed, on which shoulder the sari is draped, and where the sari is tied. The top worn with a sari is generally a fairly simple top, with the color sometimes matching that of the sari and sometimes acting as a counterpoint to the base color of the sari. The petticoat worn with a sari is a full-length slip with a drawstring around the waist; It acts as a protective layer to make sure that the sari does not stick to the body, and it also gives the wearer a place to tuck the sari.
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