Indian weave – That Madras Mom

April 26, 2023

W in Indian women fashion

Being a land of diverse cultures and traditions, it all reflects Indian women’s fashion. The color white holds a special place among designs, patterns, and colors. White reflects purity and elegance. Though in some traditions white reflects sadness and sorrow, some do associate the color with happy occasions.

A universally liked color, this color exists in the wardrobes of both men and women. Being versatile, it can be styled with both light and dark shades. Be it weddings or cocktail parties white is a great choice for choosing your attire.
There was a season when white replaced pinks and reds.

Alia bhatt’s lehenga was the talk of the town, the white lehenga that was layered with sheer and had silver thread work caught everyone’s attention that brides to become in favor of the humble color for their choice of wedding attire.

Sara Ali Khan flaunted a lehenga choli that had floral embroidery in pink and was embellished with mirror work over white fabric that gave a grandeur look.

On that note when we talk about the trends in W, I thought I’d also give a couple of wedding trends for lehengas because we are talking about ‘W’.

Light gold lehenga: A great choice of color for lehenga that can be apt for weddings to after parties. This color will give you the versatility to pair up with any color of your choice later when you choose to reuse this outfit for any other occasion. Not only that just change the accessories and tada you are ready to rock the party and even traditional rituals.

Multicolored embroidery: These levels up the lehenga game and it gives you a different dimension. It makes your outfit extra luxurious when you play with a myriad of colors on your outfit.

Emerald green: the color of hope and love, it is a rich color that goes well with gold jewellery.

Ombre choice: For brides who get confused if they should go for pastel shades or dark, the ombre is a great solution.

Color blocking: Gone are the days when wedding attire is monotone, the concept of color blocking is great when you want to play with shades of light and dark.

This post is part of #blogchatterA2Z 2023.

April 22, 2023

T in Indian women fashion

From vibrant, colorful lehengas to elegant sarees, and trendy kurtas, Indian women’s fashion caters to every occasion and taste. Indian women’s fashion is a cultural phenomenon celebrated across the world and not just only a source of our national pride.

Tanchoi

Tracing back its origin to Varanasi in the 19th century the tanchoi weave was introduced by the Persians who migrated during the period of emperor Akbar. Luxurious silk fabric is known for its distinct weave and ornate designs that are rich. It is a favored choice among the royals for its look and feels.
The floating warp technique is used to weave on satin. There is an intricate embroidery of patterns and motifs with colorful silk threads. A labor-intensive and time-consuming art, the tanchoi weave is a meticulous process that requires a lot of patience and skill.

The motifs in the intricate designs are inspired by nature, mythology, and folklore. The symmetry, boldness, and precision are evident in the intricate patterns that are woven. The hues and shades are usually contrasting with zari and meenakari embellishments. Dyed with a wide range of colors like jewel tones, earthy tones, and pastel shades the tanchoi is mesmerizing. This unparalleled beauty is a masterpiece of Indian textile art.

Tangaliya

Tracing its origin back to the Dang region in the western state of Gujarat, the tangaliya is known for its vibrant colors and unique motifs. The tangaliya was practiced by the Bhil tribe from the region who were known for their weaving skills. Known for its bright colors like oranges, red, green, blue, and yellow from natural dyes the resulting fabric is stunning and depicts the cultural ethos of Gujarat.

Telia rumal

Tracing the origin back to the 16th century during the reign of Qutub shahi dynasty in Telangana, the telia rumal or putta rumal is a tie and dye technique known for its vibrant colors. The fabric is woven in a pit loom using the resist dyeing technique known for bright colors that are derived from natural sources like pomegranate peels, turmeric, indigo, and madder.

The telia rumal apart from being a cultural recognition has also found its place in contemporary fashion that it is used in making shawls, stoles, and scarves.

This post is part of #blogchatterA2Z 2023.

April 18, 2023

P in Indian women fashion

With a history spanning thousands of years, Indian women’s fashion has evolved over the years incorporating a fusion of traditional and modern styles. Women now have a wide range of options to choose from and incorporate the culture.

Patiala salwar

Also known as Punjabi salwar, this is the most common attire worn by women in North India, especially Punjab. Designed initially for the Maharaja’s courtiers, it was initially worn by men and later adapted for women. Pleated loose at the waist and tapering towards the ankle the Patiala salwar is a comfortable pant that is unique and fashionable.

It can be made in cotton or silk depending on the occasion for which it is worn. The pleats in the pant are hand stitched to give a voluminous look and are usually worn with a long tunic. The outfit also gleams a high level of modesty in the conservative society. The loose fit of the pant makes them easier to move, so many women prefer to wear this as everyday garments.

Pochampally ikkat

Originating from the Pochampally town of Telangana, this textile art form is highly valued for vibrant colors and designs and is also passed down across generations. The weaving technique is unique and involves using dyed thread to be woven onto a pattern in a loom, involves great skill and could be spoiled even with the slightest mistake.

With origin traced back to the 17th century, the weave is known for intricate patterns and vibrant colors. Predominantly worn as sarees, the fabric is now used for garments like salwar and dresses.

Patola

The finest form of textile art and known for its vibrant colors and durability, the patola originates from the state of Gujarat. The weaving technique is known as double ikat where the yarn is first tied and dyed in a pattern and then woven into the fabric. Dating back to the 12th century, the patola was initially used to be worn by the royals.

Collectors and enthusiasts had this as the most sought-after because of its rarity. The vibrant colors in the pattern are visible on both sides. The silk threads used to weave give a luxurious and elegant look. A popular weave among the wealthy and elite because of its beauty and craftsmanship.

The weave is durable, and long-lasting making it popular among the masses.

Paithani

Originating from the state of Maharashtra, this time-consuming and complex weave is known for intricate designs Worn initially only by the nobility, the paithani’s origin can be traced back to 200 BC.

A technique called bandi is used for weaving wherein the fabric is woven in sections according to the pattern which requires patience and skill. Peacocks, flowers, and vines are traditionally inspired motifs that are woven into intricate patterns. Resistant to wear and tear and fading of colors, the paithani is yet another popular weave.

This post is part of #blogchatterA2Z 2023.

April 2, 2023April 2, 2023

B’s in Indian women fashion

Talking about India’s rich history of women’s fashion, which dates back centuries, the vibrant prints and weaves that originated from small villages still stand leading their way on top of the most sought-after weaves. Not only popular within the Indian subcontinent, but some of these weaves are also considered souvenirs by tourists from across the globe.
Let us look at some of the Indian women’s fashion trends in B.

Bandhani

Practiced in India for centuries, the bandhani is the most popularly known as tie and dye which is a traditional textile craft. Tying a small portion of the fabric with thread and then dying them in bright colors results in small circles or dots that form a pattern of intricate designs.
Though Bandhani originated in the state of Gujarat, it is also being practiced in the neighbouring state of Rajasthan. The art of this weave has been passed along through generations and is one of the ways of earning an income. Traditional techniques and natural dyes are still being used for bandhani by many families in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The unique patterns of dots, stripes, and waves which result in an intricate pattern often vary across the different regions in which this art is practiced. The bright and bold colors used reflect the mood of the occasion for which the fabric would be worn and often vary across geographies and availability of various natural dyes.

Requiring patience, precision, and creativity the bandhani is a highly-skilled craft, which is quite labor-intensive since each dot or circle is individually tied before being dipped in the dye obtained from plants and animals.
The beautiful and intricate textile craft of bandhani which reflects the cultural heritage of India is not only popular in India but also has a fanbase across the world. Designs incorporate modern twists to this ancient craft to adapt to contemporary fashion.

Banarasi silk

Produced in the city of Varanasi, in the Uttar Pradesh state of India, the banarasi silk is a luxurious and most sought-after fabric, that incorporates gold and silver threads that form intricate patterns which makes it one of the most expensive and finest fabrics.

Dating back to Mughal era, where Persian artisans were brought to Varanasi to create weaves for the royal court. The craft evolved over time, with the artisans incorporating local designs and motifs into the fabric. The fine quality, rich texture, and intricate designs make it highly prized among consumers.
The finest silk threads are woven in hand-operated looms which are enhanced using gold and silver threads that give the fabric more shine and luster. From floral motifs to geometric shapes, the threads are intricately woven to obtain desired patterns. Brocade, Zari, and meenakari techniques are used to weave into the banarasi fabric. Used to make traditional Indian costumes like sarees, salwar, and lehengas the banarasi silk is also used to make luxurious shawls and scarves. Often banarasi sarees are passed down as family heirlooms. The fabric is recognized as a geographical Indication(GI) by the Indian Government, which helps in protecting the unique identity of the product and prevents duplicates from being sold in the market.

Bagh and bagru prints

Both these are hand block printing techniques used on fabrics. Bagh has a history dating to 400 years and originated in Madhya Pradesh whereas bagru originated in the Bagru region of Rajasthan. Involving natural dyes for colors and hand-carved wooden blocks for creating intricate patterns, both these techniques are labour intensive since they are done by hand manually.

Once printing is complete, the fabrics are washed to remove excess dyes and fixatives. The vibrant colors and intricate design on the bagh and bagru print fabrics are inspired by nature and traditional motifs. Both are eco-friendly and sustainable processes that make them a one-of-a-kind fabric.

This post is a part of #blogchatterA2Z 2023.