The Banarasi Sarees are an undisputed testament to the culture and fashion of India. But, did you know that there are several different types of Banarasi sarees that you can choose from?
If you thought that the plain old traditional Banarasi saree was a trademark, you are wrong. You can choose from several options that usually tend to be on the modern side, to suit the younger generations, since every woman covets a fine Banarasi saree that is 100% authentic yet incredibly modern.
The following are some of the types of Banarasi Sarees. Each saree is made finest in design just like the traditional Banarasi saree that we are all familiar with.
Jamdani Sarees
The name ‘Jamdani’ arises from Persian origins translating to ‘Jam’ meaning flower and ‘Dani’ meaning vase. It literally translates to the extensive floral artwork present on Jamdani sarees.
It is a handloom woven fabric that is made of high-quality cotton on which only traditional motifs of florals are intricately woven. Only classic colours like grey and white are used and a Jamdani Saree can take almost a year to be completely woven.
Butidar sarees contain the ‘Buta’ or ‘Buti’ all over the surface. It is a beautiful result of the Karhwa/Fekua technique of weaving. One can find ‘butis’ that are arranged straight, half drop and several other patterns.
The word Jangla translates to Jungle and the sarees are inspired from motifs of vegetation. These sarees are considered to be one of the most ancient ones amongst the Banarasi brocades. The thick zari work on a Jangla saree is characterized by highly intricate weaving and 24 carat gold decoration. You can also find depictions of hunting scenes, animals, birds and human figures that portray the very essence of medieval hobbies.
Tissue Sarees
Tissue Sarees are some of the most delicate Banarasi Sarees that are woven using extremely fine threads of silk to provide an appearance of tissue paper to the cloth. These sarees are popular in the southern states and carry a perfect blend of woven silk and pattu (silk) zari.
Tanchoi Sarees
The Tanchoi sarees are a separate class in Banarasi Sarees. Each Tanchoi saree is a stand-out due to its embossed weaves and motifs. Each saree carries with itself a legendary technique of silk weaving that has made its way to India all the way from China through the 19th century. The weaving technique involves a single or double warp and most often several different colours on the weft. It is one of the most complicated and technique oriented weaving processes whose result is worth every inch of the outcome.
One can also find several varieties in Tanchoi sarees such as Satin Tanchoi, Mushabbar, Atlas, etc.
Cutwork embroidery is famous for its own glory. The Banarasi sarees too are beautified using cutwork techniques. These sarees apart from looking extremely stunning, make for a versatile usage. If you think that wearing a Banarasi saree every single day may be over-dressing, try the cutwork Banarasi sarees. The intricacy and the astute simplicity in cutwork sarees can be appreciated by several people alike.
These are the basic types of Banarasi sarees that you can so proudly drape yourselves into. Before you throw away your hand on Banarasi sarees altogether, try these variations to choose what suits you best. Meanwhile, visit https://rajyalakshmi.co.in/ to explore our range of Heritage Banaras Sarees.
