Saree happens to be one of the most essential costumes worn by the Indian women. Sarees help to add a traditional flavor to the women’s attire and are a ready-to-go option for occasions such as weddings, festivals, pujas etc. The essence of wearing a saree lies in the fact that it looks elegant and at the same time beautiful. Sarees can be categorized according to their process of manufacturing and each type can be chosen to suit various occasions. You can find a wide range of exquisite designs and readily shop now from online stores like Fynd, Craftsvilla, Amazon and many more.
The traditional textile art of India upholds the production of handicraft sarees. The handicraft or handloom sarees are usually categorized according to their origin of production. Most handicraft sarees are the product of excellent artwork by the weavers from rural India. Some well-known handicraft sarees are Banarasi Silk Sarees, Kanchipuram Silk Sarees, Tussar Silk Sarees, Baluchuri Sarees, Bomkai Sarees, Chanderi Silk Sarees, etc.
The price of these masterworks starts from a few thousand and can reach up to a lakh depending upon the material used. Hence, here is a list of few affordable handicraft sarees you can choose from, for the very next occasion:
BANARASI SILK SAREES
Major Production: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The Banarasi Sarees are one of the purest forms of sarees in India, uniquely marked for their gold or silver zari, complex embroidery, and finely woven silk. They are relatively heavy due to their complicated design and intricate engravings. The special features of Banarasi Sarees include intertwined floral motifs, gold work, metallic visuals, net/meshwork, compact weaving and mina work. Most of these designs are inculcated from the Mughal period.
The preparation of Banarasi Sarees usually takes 15-30 days but at times can take up to 4-5 months depending on the complexity of the design and patterns.
TUSSAR SILK SAREES:
Major Production: Jharkhand
The preparation of Tussar silk involves the extraction of protein from the larvae of silkworms. The fabric is produced in a natural golden color. Although the rich and coarse texture makes the saree look heavy, yet it is actually light on the skin. Dry cleaning is the only option for Tussar silk as the fabric is delicate and stiff.
Nowadays artificial chemical dyes are being used to bring in other colors in the Tussar silk variety. The price range of Tussar Silk starts from 1000INR and can be found at even lesser price at some online stores.
BOMKAI SAREES
Major Production: Subarnapur, Orissa
The primary feature distinguishing these set of sarees is the ornamented thread-work in the borders. They often stand out from the rest because of the unique patterns and the bright colors. The colors are often observed in contrasting sequences, as the weavers carefully choose this to be the star factor of Bomkai Silk.
The Bomkai silk sarees are mostly available at low ranges at all online stores, which may touch a few thousand.
KANCHIPURAM SILK SAREES
Major Production: Tamil Nadu
The Kanchipuram Silk sarees are prepared from pure mulberry silk thread. These sarees are characterized by temple borders, florals, checks, stripes and mostly contrasting borders. They are widely known, even among the foreigners, for their overall quality and craftsmanship.
The price of Kanchipuram sarees varies widely depending upon the complexity of design and patterns and the material used for Zari. A simple Kanchipuram saree can be bought in the price range of 2-3 thousands.
BALUCHURI SAREES
Major Production: Murshidabad, West Bengal
With the Geographical Indication tag against its name, these handicraft sarees have originated in West Bengal. They often have depictions from the scenes of mythological narrations like Mahabharata and Ramayana and takes approximately a week for their preparation.
Baluchuri sarees often incurs a high expense, but there are certain varieties which cost less and can be easily afforded.