EXQUISITE ARTISTRY

The term Banarasi refers to a saree made in the ancient city of Varanasi, also known as Banaras. The sarees are among the best in India and they are renowned for their luxurious needlework, exquisite silk as well as gold and silver brocade, or zari. The sarees are relatively heavy due to the detailed engravings and highly woven silk used in their construction. These sarees are distinguished by their intricate interwoven floral and foliate motifs, kalga and bel and a string of erect leaves known as jhallar at the outer edge of the border. A saree can take anything between fifteen days and a month, and perhaps even up to six months, to finish, depending on how intricate the motifs and patterns are. Indian ladies typically wear banarasi sarees to major events like weddings, where they are supposed to be complimented by their finest jewellery.

The rich Banarasi weaves feature vibrant hues, rustling silks, shimmering highlights and elaborate tapestry-like motifs that are anchored in history and drenched in regality. The “Khandaani” Indian heirlooms that have been passed down through the centuries and are reported to have been mentioned in the mythical Mahabharata writings are known as Banarasi. They are a revered part of our heritage that has evolved over time. They have been a mainstay of the Indian hand looms sector because they were originally exclusively produced on handlooms and the genuinely rare ones are only those that are hand-woven. They have established themselves as a pillar of the Indian hand loom industry. Benarasi are treasured, delicate weaves thanks to labor-intensive weaving methods, the use of premium raw materials and unique, secret weaving techniques. If a buyer is ready to forgo the modern versions for the timeless appeal of the hand-woven beauties, today’s brocades and Banarasis are manufactured utilising a variety of base materials and newly developed methods, such as power looms.