Hand Block Printed Sarees

In India, the tradition of wearing sarees or saree-like drapery goes way back in time. Our history has accounted for several mentions of sarees since time immemorial. Various paintings, poems, and literature talk about the significance of sarees and their evolution. The word ‘sattika’ has been mentioned in early Sanskrit literature which evolved to become the word, ‘sari.’ This sattika or sari was composed of three pieces, namely 'Antriya' (lower garment), 'Uttariya' (veil worn over the head and shoulders), and 'Stanpatta' (chest band). This is also mentioned in Sanskrit and the Buddhist Pali literature of 6th century BC. Other works in Sanskrit such as the Kadambari by Banabhatta and ancient Tamil poetry, Silappadhikaram, have also described women dressed in exquisite drapery or sarees.

Furthermore, our ancient literary and historical sources highlight the different styles of draping a saree and the different names given to it. Even today, we find different sarees and draping styles all over India, something that adds to a saree's beauty and cultural significance. In India, every saree is an expression of a state culture embedded. As a piece of clothing, these sarees speak volumes about India’s notion of ‘unity in diversity’ and how a single piece of cloth worn differently by Indian women, connects them and creates a perfect balance of religion, culture, and distinctiveness.

Today, in India, more than a hundred clusters are making handloom sarees, using different types of material like silk, cotton, silk-cotton, linen etc., in techniques like block printing, embroidery, applique, hand painting and many more.

Due to its unique techniques and aesthetics, many sarees, like Banarasi saree, Chanderi saree, Kanchipuram saree, Maheshwari saree, Swalkuchi saree, Bhagalpuri saree, Paramkudi saree, Bagh printed saree, etc. have now become synonamous with their clusters.