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Saree - a Glorious Past, Possess Timeless Appeal and a Bright Future

Saree is a marvel. It’s a fine creation which gives that sensuous and caring touch, feminine appeal and above all aided by these factors gives its wearer, obviously a lady, that special sparkle and charm. It has been a part and parcel of the Indian and sub-continent body polity since ages and today it stands tall among the galaxy of women’s wear. It has withstood the ravages of father time, seen through dynasties and battles of yore and has emerged unscathed in spite of having the hardest of trials of being done away with.

My goodness, it sure is a wonder, so many years gone by and yet it exists. That’s what is called timeless appeal and beyond compare. Its history, growth, and what make it so alluring is a subject of fascination and queries. It’s worthwhile to make a thorough read up of the same.

Fabled History

What can one say about it? Words run out and one runs out of adjectives to describe the same. Words like rich, class; masterpiece, rare appeal, and above all pure plus simple magic can be illustrated to describe it. Records reveal that it has the oldest existence in the world of garments. It is also regarded as the longest running female garment in the world.

Its origin goes back to 5,000 years ago; mention of it is there in the great masterpiece Vedas, a literature that is the oldest, way back in 3,000 BC. Not only has it seen through the rise and fall of kingdoms, legacies and regimes but also many an alien influx, with élan, fortitude and grace.

It boasts of various names such as Saree, Seere, Sadi, the term Saree comes from a Sanskrit word ‘sati’, which means strip of cloth. The same word evolved into the Prakrit ‘sadi’ and was subsequently converted into the word ‘Saree’.

The history of Indian civilisation reveals that unstitched fabric has been the fulcrum for its apparel development. Saree along with dhoti, lungi, dupatta and so on falls under this category. The reason for this has been attributed to the belief that such a fabric is pure.

There have been some misinterpretations of the garment, its origin, and other such ilk. Some people attributed the garment to be a straight lift from a Greek or Roman toga one sees on medieval statues. That is not correct, since the garment is cent-per-cent an Indian one, and originated from the compulsions of sub-continent weather conditions. Saree is manufactured from a crop called cotton. This crop existed in India much before Greek legend Alexander, or for that matter any invader set foot on Indian soil. That in addition, centuries back of the same. The other interesting titbits worth a reveal are:

• In the early stages, people of both sexes wore the garment. It became more refined, adjustable and in tune with the gender needs of men and women. This was necessitated by various considerations such as region and social conditions. With passage of time, the garment came to be known as dhoti and made in tune with the physical appearance of men folk. And the same with women, for whom the garment’s name remained the same, that is, Saree.
• Early examples of Indian art support the existence of Saree. Scriptures from the Gandharva, Mathura and Gupta schools (1^st-6^thcentury AD) reveal that the Saree in its earlier form was a brief garment with a veil.
• Ancient records also support the fact that in South India the Saree has been for a long period a single piece of material, which served as both skirt and veil. This trend continues to date in some rural areas.
• The well-known Indian painter of the 19^thcentury Raja Raviverma in his time was asked to do a neat paint-up on various goddesses. Towards this purpose, he looked for a wear, which suited the goddesses he was to paint. He scouted the length and breadth of the whole sub-continent for that elusive perfect female-wear. He found one, in the form of Saree, a garment that in his opinion made for a perfect female wear. It fitted and presented a woman, as they should be.
• Famous Indian historical heroines like Queen Jhansi Laxmibai, Belawadi Mallamma and Kittur Chennamma wore Saree during their battles. Neat and tightly away, Saree enabled them to battle enemy troops on horseback.
• A worn-out Saree was and is used in many innovative ways. Once its usefulness as a garment wears tapers off, they were and continue to be used as a bed sheet cover; the torn part of the garment was covered by a cloth and used as such. Village women use Saree as pouches and bags to carry grocery and their little ones. On some occasions, they are used by village folk as a cradle, tying the ends of a Saree to nearby trees.
• They are also used as towels, napkins, and so on long after they are worn out.
• Ancient western historians like Herodotus and so on thought that Saree were cloth-growing trees in India.

Flavour of the Garment

The garment is an Indian offering to the world. It is termed as a rectangular piece of cloth of five to six yards in length. The style, colour, and texture of Saree varies. It comes in various modes ranging from shimmering silk to fine and pure cotton to neat chiffon material

It also comes in the most intricate of embroidered designs in silk, gold, or silver threads. In addition, one has the choice of different colours in vibrant bright or moderate pastels. The garment comes for every occasion, touches upon every mood and satisfies every woman’s budget.

The garment when mixed with various styles of India’s ethnic diversity bring out further the latent appeal of its richness. Experts describe it as probably the most versatile garment.

Some of the most famous brands are Benaras, Kanjeevaram, Dharmavaram and so on. All of these have been around for years and made a mark for themselves with their quality and diversity.

What Makes it So Popular and Appealing

This is a question, which is undoubtedly asked frequently, and there is no reason why it should be so. The structure and layout of the garment just fits in with the physical appearance of a Indian women.

It is a graceful, decent, enchanting, and easily wearable garment, which presents the timeless beauty and striking appeal of an Indian woman. Women just love it for its aesthetic appearance and if the garment is devised in a properly structured manner, then women find it all the more appealing.

It fits with ease and comfort the need of any woman since it is not cut nor tailored for any particular size. The other plus points loaded in its favour is that it can be worn in several ways and cuts across factors such as status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman.

Indian woman are acknowledged the world over for their beauty, and this is amplified further when they are decked up in an alluring manner. Towards this endeavour Saree plays a vital part. It transforms the looks and appeal of even an elderly Indian woman in a neat and admirable manner. The charm is magnified more when the garment is draped properly.

A chic modern woman looks elegant and neat in a Saree; hair cut short and trimmed projects the picture of a stylish Indian corporate office goer. The picture is further heightened with a modern office briefcase in hand.

Tradition and modernity apart, the garment has been and will continue to remain an elegant Indian women’s wear. With modern techniques and clever insights the garment would continue to have an impact of its own.

Saree is not only popular in India, but also in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Fiji, and Mauritius and so on.

What Has it Got That Has Made it Withstand Outside Influx

What is so special about it? One may ask ….hmm after a thought one is bound to say it provides that special all feminine appeal and touch. It brings grace to its wearer unlike other forms of apparel like jeans and so on. Jeans gives a more of manly look and appears a bit too macho rather than feminine.

The other major factor attributed to its incredible resistance relates to total simplicity, practical comfort and the feeling of luxury a woman experiences on wearing it. The instant respect that the men folk have for the garment and the woman who wears it is another added factor.

It has held its own in spite of the influx of more hep and stylish forms of contemporary forms of women’s wear like jeans and so on. It has also endeared itself more with the ease with which it has evolved and recreated itself over the years. To support this point it should be stressed that air-hostesses on India’s national carrier, Air-India, continue to wear the traditional Saree instead of a more conventional in-flight uniform.

The charm and alluring features of Saree has started to spread its wings and is slowly gaining a foothold in the hitherto impregnable fortress of the western world. The western women have started to take a fancy for it. They admire it for the simplicity and flowing grace it brings to its wearer.

Popular Hollywood stars like Madonna, Goldie Hawn and so on, plus wives of popular political celebrities like Cherie Blair and Mrs Robert Celeste have worn them and spread its specialty among other westerners.

Garment experts disclose that Saree would continue to have a place of its own due to its utility and cost-effectiveness. It will continue to fascinate women in the years to come.

Survey’s Report Says it All

The importance of Saree has come to fore in a survey conducted by KSA Technopark on the Indian clothing market. The favourite choice of Indian women continues to be Saree. It has retained its special charm and place despite tough competition from contemporary forms of apparel.

It contributed a sizable 44% in value terms of the total spend on women’s wear last year. In addition to this the survey reveals that the overall growth of women’s wear market has also picked up and grown at 8% per annum. It has even outclassed the men’s and kids wear segments.

The reason for this unusual spectacle has been attributed to more women having a job of their own and making money for themselves at their work place. With money at their disposal women’s purchasing power has grown by leaps and bounds.

The study also reveals a brighter picture for the future and points out that if Saree is marketed in a more proper and professional manner, then its value could soar further. In addition it could be on a par with global women’s wear products and as a result lays stress on its aggressive branding in the global markets.

The importance of Saree gains more visibility and prestige in the sense that with more branding the market will see ample value growth. Already Indian trade bodies have clasped hands together to promote the Indian fashion industry and more specifically Saree.