Chanderi Sarees are one of those timeless creations that never go out of fashion. They are a classic. If you decide to wear one today, it will be a statement just as much as it would have been centuries back. But what makes Chanderi saree unique? Read this blog to learn about the uniqueness of the graceful Chanderi Handloom Saree.
The Mesmerizing Fabric
Chanderi sarees are mostly produced from three different kinds of fabrics: pure silk, Chanderi cotton and cotton silk. They are also referred to as ‘woven air’ for their sheerness and transparency. The yarns that are used to make this saree are extra fine and of extremely high-quality. It doesn’t go through the degumming giving the fabric its unique shine and texture. It helps to prevent breakage during weaving. Chanderi Handloom Saree is one of the finest sarees in India.
Chanderi sarees were originally woven with handspun cotton yarn that has as fine as 300 counts. This is very similar to the equally famous Muslins of Dhaka. The fine count cotton for Chanderi fabric originated from ‘Kolikanda’, a special type of local root. This made the fabric extremely light but also strong. It also gave it the famous glossy finish.
The Unique Motifs of Chanderi Handloom Saree
What distinguishes most of the handloom weaves are their unique motifs. This is equally true for Chanderi. Many of the motifs of this saree come from nature. Traditional motifs like birds, Peacocks, flower and distinguishable geometric patterns is common in sarees and textiles.
If one walks around the beautiful town of Chanderi, one will be able to find inspirations of the many more motifs in every nook and crook of the town. The pillars and walls of the breath-taking Khila Kothi have gorgeous carvings as does the famous Chanderi museum. All of which provide fodder for the weaver of the town.
The most common and widely used Chanderi motif is the coin motif or ‘Ashrafi’. Some motifs express marital wishes. For example, the ‘Sada Suhagan’ motif is commonly presented to young brides as gifts so that they stay married women their entire lives.
Another wedding motif is ‘Mehendi Lagi Haati’, which shows two hands with beautiful henna on them. Similarly, the palanquin motif on the border shows an old Indian bride going to her husband’s home in a palanquin.
Some other unique motifs exclusive to Chanderi weaves comprise ‘nalferma’, ‘jangla’, ‘dandidar’, ‘chatai’.
Interestingly, in the olden days, the butis on Chanderi fabric was woven on the handloom using needles. Different types of motif was created using separate needles. Weavers would then coat these motifs with copper dust, gold dust and silver dust.
The Modern-Day Appeal of Chanderi Handloom Saree
Because India grows, the number of working women is also increasing. One of their favorite choices is plain sarees which are easy to carry and maintain. They mostly rely on vibrate color and texture for charm. Like most designer saree in Kolkata, Chanderi Handloom sarees are characterized not only by soft pastel shades but also by bold colors like red, black, navy blue and fuchsia. The vibrancy of a plain Chanderi saree is what makes it a favorite among the saree lovers.