'Her story' of a Saree

"In folds of silk and hues of gold, a saree unfurls its tale untold."

• Introduction
• Archaeological proof of the saree
• The old version of the saree
• Proof in the written word
• Conclusion

A saree is a traditional garment worn by women in South Asia, typically consisting of a long piece of fabric draped over the body. It is a symbol of cultural identity and is often worn during special occasions and ceremonies.

Introduction

It is a long piece of cloth five to eight meters in length. The flowing saree is simple and perfect for dusty, hot summers and cold and windy winters. Long, long ago, when someone decided to use the same long cloth to both drape around her waist as a skirt, and cover her head as a shawl as well, the saree was born. It is probably as old as the art of weaving itself. 

 Archaeological proof of the saree

The saree is seen draped tied around the waist of the statue of the mother goddess in the excavated city of Harappa. The Rigveda, written 3000 years ago, describes the long, pleated ‘Sathika’ that is tucked around the waist. The loose end of the saree is called the Palav. The ‘Palav’ or ‘Pallu’, as it is known today, has evolved artistically, and is often a reflection of the trends of the times. But very early in history, creators and designers of saree started to exhibit their artistry by printing a variety of patterns on this part of the saree.

The old version of the saree

While the modern day woman wears it with an inner skirt and a blouse called the Choli or Ravikai, the woman of ancient times wore it one long garment tied around the waist to a waistband, a small cloth tied around the breasts as a breast bad and a shawl that covered the head, leaving the midriff open. Stitched garments appear in paintings and statues as early as the second century A.D. But people still preferred the un-stitched garments over the stitched ones.

Proof in the written word

'Silappadikaram', the Tamil epic, written in the Sangam age, describes the saree as a long robe that covers the waist and the head. Kalidasa describes the twirl of the inner skirt when he wrote about the graceful movement of women in his poetry. The Chinese travelers to India write about the striped sarees that were sold in the northern part of the country. The paintings in the caves of Ajanta provide further proof to the patterns.

Conclusion

Stitched garments have taken over the world and the increasing numbers of working men and women have stopped wearing the unstitched Dhoti or Sari/Saree while at their chores. But the popularity of the sari/saree has not waned, as has that of other unstitched robes. It is seen as fashionable, elegant and professional. As Delhi based textile historian Ṛta Kapur Chishti describes it, it can hide as well as reveal a great deal of the personality of the wearer.

A saree is not such a simple garment. Every weave has a history and every technique is passed from generation to generation, just like our memories, our stories and our folk lore. Even today, a saree is a cherished possession for any woman. It’s still the perfect gift for moms and everyday there are new designs launching so you can never have enough. To expand your collection, shop today from our highly curated selection of top quality, authentic sarees.