Most of the Fabrics Stores in Kolkata incorporates the most gorgeous chanderi sarees. But there are some amazing facts about these sarees that must be known.
Chanderi sarees were named after the birth of these sarees in a town of Chanderi located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. These types of elegant sarees have been the favorite of women of every class. And why not? The glossy finish, the richness, and the light weight of the sarees are enough for enchanting everyone. One can now find chanderi sarees and chanderi fabric in almost all the reputed Fabric Stores in Kolkata. Here are a few unknown facts about these sarees that are sure to leave one amazed.
- Though the historical records have revealed that the chanderi weaves have been there all around since 11th century, the references in the Indian mythology to vedic period advices that chanderi fabric was actually introduced by Sishupal who was the cousin of Lord Krishna.
- The chanderi sarees are considered as the sarees that are ‘woven air’ due to the transparency and sheer texture of the textile. These gleaming sarees owe to the extra fine yarns that are used to weave chanderi fabric. The yarns used for weaving this fabric does not go through the degumming technique in order to prevent the breakage at the time of weaving. This also gives the textile a unique shine and a glossy texture.
- The chanderi fabric was originally woven with the handspun cotton yarns that were fines as three hundred counts, thus, making the textile as popular as the muslin fabrics in Dhaka. The finer count cotton used for weaving chanderi was originally extracted from the special root known as the Kolikanda. Strong yet light, this gave the textile a very glossy finish.
- Chanderi weaves were originally revived when Scindia’s royal family extended the patronage to the craft in the year 1910. It was the time when the gold thread motifs were actually introduced for Chanderi weaving. However, this craft declined when the British used to rule the place in the 1920s. At this time they began to import the cheaper quality mill-made yarns from the Manchester via Kolkata that badly affected the handspun cotton chanderi market. The quality of Chanderi sarees or chanderi fabric deteriorated in 1930s with the import of the Japanese silk that was introduced in wrap while cotton yarns were retained in the weft of chanderi sarees.
- The three most popular textiles used for weaving chanderi sarees are chanderi cotton, silk cotton, and pure silk. Chanderi sarees are one of the most popularly used and preferred Silk Cotton Sarees in Kolkata.
- The butis found on the chanderi fabrics are woven manually by hand by using the needles. Separate needles are used for creating different types of motifs. The weavers then coat the motifs with silver, golden and copper dust. Inspired by banarasee fabric, a few motifs used in the chanderi handloom sarees are gold coin, bundi, keri, churi, akhrot, eent, meena, ghoongra, etc.
- Some of the exclusive motifs of the chanderi sarees comprise the dandidar, jangla, chatai, nalferma, etc. Though available in exotic colors like black, red, fuchsia, and dark blue, chanderi fabric or chanderi sarees are always characterized by the softer pastel shades.