Discover the Rich Indian Culture of Sarees
From scriptures to royal courtyards, sarees have been adorned by women across all age groups, castes and statuses. From teenage girls to old-age women, the history of saree traces back to numerous decades. While we all have seen our mothers dressing up in their most exquisite sarees for special occasions, we have also seen our grand maa’s trunk filled with heirloom drapes that radiate a massive ‘main character’ vibe and are the depiction of rich Indian saree culture.
From the Bollywood sets in Mumbai to the global red carpet, the importance of saree in Indian culture showcases why Gen Z and millennials are obsessing over this timeless drape. But here’s the tea: no two saree drapes are the same. India is a land of diverse states and different cultures sarees of that particular region. If we trace the sartorial map of sarees in India, one will be spoilt for choices. Each craft that beautifies a saree narrates a colour story – be it is the Leheriya saree of Rajasthan or the Brocade silk from Benaras, stunning Kanjeevaram of Tamil Nadu or Paithani from Maharashtra. States with different cultures weave in their historic narrative in their sarees.
History of Sarees from Ancient to Modern Times
The history of sarees from ancient to modern times reflects the diverse evolution India has gone through in culture, craftsmanship, and lifestyle. This goes back to the Vedic times when the saree was not the exotic drape but a simple unstitched drape. With time, women from the royal families started draping themselves in this eternally timeless drape; positioning it as a beautiful piece of clothing. This brought the introduction of new artsworks, crafts, prints that accentuated the beauty of sarees. The Indian saree culture saw a paradigmatic shift when Bollywood actresses were seen wearing gorgeous sarees on the silver screen. This opened the door of innovation for the fashion designers and artists that made the saree the canvas for experimenting with different crafts and art forms of India. Today, Libas is reimagining traditional crafts and decorating the sarees in lighter fabrics, hence making each saree drape a go-to outfit for festivities and celebrations.