Importance of embroidery sarees, Various designs and models of embroidery sarees Part-1

There are many varieties of Embroideries. Some are transmitted from generations to generations and some were brought in to India by migrated people. Some of them were brought from western countries.  But they stand as an example for the creativity, expertise and skills of Indian artisans..

 Even the images of Gods and Goddesses in the pictures in our homes, can be seen wearing heavy embroidery clothes..

 It is a matter of wonder to know that Zardosi embroidery is in use from the time of Rig-Veda. Some families are practicing this art from generations.  This has now become a cottage industry and a means of livelihood for many people as Embroidery now a hot trend in the international market..

  There is a heavy demand for the embroidery clothes created here and so designers from other countries are also choosing India for embroidery work.It was thought that introduction of machine embroidery may give hard time to hand embroidery, but that has not happened. The popularity of hand embroidery has grown as well as its value.

Silk Route For The Pacific

A carnage of silkworms makes a saree. An entrepreneur now weaves ahimsa in it.

Did you know that 15 silkworms are killed to produce 1 gram of silk? A silk sari with all its elegance and shimmer comes at a price of 50'000 silk worms. While you do hear animal rights groups protesting the use of leather products' we seldom hear a voice against the manner in which silk is produced. One little known voice of compassion comes from Hyderabad' where Kusuma Rajaiah'after years of research'now produces silk without killing the worms. A senior technical officer with APCO (Andhra Pradesh Handloom Weaver's Cooperative Society)' Kusuma's search for eco-friendly and humane silk dates back to the '90s when Janaki Venkataraman' wife of former president R.

Venkataraman' asked for a silk sari that did not involve the killing of worms on her visit to APCO. The same request cropped up in 2000' when Amala Akkineni' actress/dancer and animal activist' visited APCO.Silk comes from the cocoons of the silk worm (bombyx mori). In the silk industry' cocoons are killed by steaming or dropping them into boiling water when they are ten days old' before they metamorphose into a moth.

The silk is believed to be the finest at this stage. This is preferred because when the cocoons open naturally at one end' to release the moth' the continuity of the fibre is lost. But maybe not' thought Kusuma. He purchases cocoons from mulberry farms in Chittoor district. The yellow coloured cocoons are reared in large cane baskets at his residence in Hyderabad. The moths emerge after 8-10 days' piercing the cocoon at one end. "The adult moths have a short life span of four days. During this time they mate and die naturally'" Kusuma explains. The pierced cocoons are spun into yarn. This is then woven into fabrics. Weavers of Nalgonda and Ananthpur district of Andhra Pradesh produce dhotis while fabrics' including saris' are woven by the weavers of Karimnagar district. "All my products are done on handlooms and benefits several weaver families'" says Kusuma. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi' he calls this silk ahimsa. While ahimsa silk may lack the shine of regular silk' it is comfortable to wear. It's also wrinkle-free and has a better fall. Kusuma received the patent for the eco-friendly silk last year. The new silk is favoured by the likes of Sheila Dixit and Maneka Gandhi. If the rustle of silk still distracts you' it's time you met Kusuma Rajaiah.

Ahimsa Silk: Silk Saree without killing a single silkworm

We have seen many protests worldwide against the use of leather products. However, surprisingly, there hasn’t been much resistance against the use of silk garments, especially considering the fact that thousands of silkworms are killed in order to make a small piece of fabric. Kusuma Rajaiah, of Hyderabad, has come up with an initiative to produce silk without the killing of silk worms.

Making a Difference - Ahimsa Silk

In this article at Outlook India, Mythily Ramachandran writes about Kusuma, who started this ahimsa way of producing silk when he was approached by Janaki Venkataraman, wife of former President R. Venkatraman. Mrs. Venkatraman asked Kusuma if he had any saree which had not resulted in the killing of any silkworms. This led Kusuma to investigate whether silk could be produced without deliberate killing of the worms.

How did he achieve this?:

Silk comes from the cocoons of the silk worm (bombyx mori). In the silk industry, cocoons are killed by steaming or dropping them into boiling water when they are ten days old, before they metamorphose into a moth.

The silk is believed to be the finest at this stage. This is preferred because when the cocoons open naturally at one end, to release the moth, the continuity of the fibre is lost. But maybe not, thought Kusuma.
He purchases cocoons from mulberry farms in Chittoor district. The yellow coloured cocoons are reared in large cane baskets at his residence in Hyderabad. The moths emerge after 8-10 days, piercing the cocoon at one end. “The adult moths have a short life span of four days. During this time they mate and die naturally,” Kusuma explains. The pierced cocoons are spun into yarn. This is then woven into fabrics. Weavers of Nalgonda and Ananthpur district of Andhra Pradesh produce dhotis while fabrics, including saris, are woven by the weavers of Karimnagar district. “All my products are done on handlooms and benefits several weaver families,” says Kusuma. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he calls this silk ahimsa. While ahimsa silk may lack the shine of regular silk, it is comfortable to wear. It’s also wrinkle-free and has a better fall. ""

Shimmer Look Sarees with Embroidery

You may think that what is the specialty of the work sarees that are display here…the people who think in such a way have to carefully observe the art which lies in the sarees. The sarees are designed with Resham work, Darwaaz works and so on by which the beauty of the saree is doubled. Besides these works the sequence works which are used in the designing of the petty coats are very beautiful to look. By using all these designs the appearances of the saree is totally changed and look verybeautiful and awesome. The Shimmer look which is seen by wearing the saree of this kind stood the best and the center of attraction in the parties. These designer sarees are the origin of the creativity of the designers which brought a new look and grace to the women who wear those sarees. Here is some description given for some of the sarees and it is as follows:

The gold tissue with the net cloth is attached for the cream color saree and besides this the velvetborder is joined to the saree. The complete saree is designed by using the straightway work which looks very heavy and different.

The black velvet net boarder is attached to the violet colored saree and is given the embroidery with gold and silver Zari treads and even the matching blouse is full of the work which is like that of the designer wear and brought new look to the saree itself.

Resham and Darwaz work is given for the whole saree using the blue color thread on the light blue color saree using the sequence stitch which brought an additional beauty to the saree.

Fragrant Mysore silk sarees

Scented silk sarees from Mysore Silks

The most attracting weakness of women is sarees and Mysore silk sarees is another strong weak point for ladies and they become mesmerized for all the latest designs and colors in Mysore silk sarees.

Additional to this the Mysore silk sarees are coming with scented flavors to attract the women and also make them to experience variety happiness.

One of the famous textile designer showrooms of Chennai KSIC designed such fragrant sarees to attract the women. Among all the Mysore silk sarees the pattu sarees are very famous and also designer in appearance.

These fragrant Mysore silk sarees are marketed in national and international all over the world. To design the sarees in fragrance, the material is exported from Japan with many flavors and the ladies can select their own fragrant sarees and design those sarees with their own taste.

Miss Universe 2012: The hot hot hot National Costume round! Part-2

Miss Philippines 2012, Janine Tugonon, performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show.

 Miss Puerto Rico 2012, Bodine Koehler, performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show. 

 Miss Ecuador 2012, Carolina Andrea Aguirre Perez, performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show at PH Live in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Miss Italy 2012, Grazia Pinto, performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show.

Miss Universe 2012: The hot hot hot National Costume round! Part-1

 The 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show at PH Live in Las Vegas, Nevada December 14, 2012. The 89 Miss Universe Contestants will compete for the Diamond Nexus Crown on December 19, 2012.

 Miss Indonesia 2012, Maria Selena, performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show at PH Live in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

 Miss India Shilpa Singh performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show at PH Live in Las Vegas, Nevada December 14, 2012. 

 Miss India 2012, Shilpa Singh, performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show. 

Miss Cyprus 2012, Ioanna Yiannakou, performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Plain Saree with Embroidered Choli Fashion

Plain sarees with embroidered blouses Trend

A popular notion is that choli only supplements saree and can never be fun. Well here is your chance to prove this wrong. Heavily embroidered blouses with a plain saree is in fashion now. Simple plain saree with heavy embellished choli looks absolutely fabulous on anybody. This saree is perfect for small parties so have atleast one of these types.

Top tips for wearing Plain saree with embroidered Choli 

(arrow marked in above picture):

1. Wear a single step with this kind of saree.

2. Take care that the blouse is well stitched

3. Go for a square cut in the front like the lady in Blue saree did.

4. Get the back knot to the blouse.

5. Wear Earrings and big necklace to look stunningly beautiful

6. Always wear a set of bangles with saree. This will instantly add indian feminity.

7. Get the blouse hooks stitched at the back so that you need not wear steps.

8. Go for a gold, silver or cream color sandals on a bright colored saree.

Kajol’s Durga Puja Saree

Love the white Bengali Cotton saree Kajol was wearing for Durga Puja. Her Bengali style of putting on the saree is very nice. I really like the big temple jhumkas and the necklace.

I like her idea of keeping the saree simple and doing little heavy on jewellery.This is something you can do as well for any kindof  puja at your home too.

Sherlyn Chopra’s Beautiful Saree

Keeping aside the controversy there is something we need to learn from Sherlyn Chopra on her saree fashion.

She was recently spotted in a gorgeous saree with a contrast embroidered blouse. Its clear that long time fashion of plain saree and embroidered has not been out of place yet. Her gorgeous big Jhumkas definately complement her look.

Notice that as fas as jewellery is concerned she kept it simple only by wearing big jhumkas and no necklace and minimal bangles. Again it is clear that on a gorgeous saree all you need is only one big piece of jewellery to give you that great look.