Banarasi Weave
India is a country diverse in culture, language, religion & heritage. Similarly, India hosts an array of exquisite artistic creations and embroidery techniques.
Every region has a craft of its own, catching eyes worldwide. They not only represent the traditions but also are a mirror image of dynasties that lived through adding glorious pages to the history of India.
THE EVERGREEN BANARASI WEAVE
Art is an evolving concept and the city of Banaras is no stranger to it, it has always been akin to magnificent innovation over time. The Banarasi Weave with its techniques that have been adhered by skilful workers, mostly remains untouched with a few newer elements making their way through the final production process.
It all dates back to the migration of silk weavers from Gujrat during the famine of 1603 when they settled in the alleyways of Banaras and the embroidery picked up excellence and reverence during the 18th and 19th centuries.
FLARE OF THE BANARASI SAREE
It is most famous in Banarasi sarees that are woven on jacquard pit looms. The tana (wrap) is held tightly on the loom and the bana (weft) are placed in a shuttle. As the shuttle moves, the wraps and weft threaded is woven together. To date, this rich needlework holds true to the classical art heritage of India with fascinating brocades representing fine Indian Craftsmanship.
Originally, these sarees were only woven for royalty, they were embellished with gold and silver threads and took over a year to make. As time went by its opulence, splendid designs and the fact that it denotes class has made it one of the most valued outfits for a bride who wants to dazzle in a traditional way on her big day.
BANARASI WEAVE TODAY
A gem to the wardrobes of many Bollywood stars, Rekha has been an ardent propagator of this timeless technique as she goes on flaunting her Banarasi Sarees embellishing the red carpet with her aura.
In the fashion industry, there has been an exhilarating response from young designers who find themselves either taking inspiration or adding its flare to their couture and costumes.
The fact that the art stays rooted to its original form is due to the fact that the city of Banaras has worked endlessly, burning the midnight oil in order to keep the integrity of this artform intact. It is this dedication of the artisans that even after being existent for thousands of years, enables a sense of royalty in the modern woman when adorned.
