Dhakai Jamdani Sarees- Flowers and vases designs on fine cotton

I have already written some posts under the section Indian Sarees. When it comes to sarees, West Bengal weavers stand apart by their contribution to the weaving of very fine cotton sarees. I love all type of Bengal sarees , may it be simple Bengal cotton or heavily embroidered Kantha sarees . We learn from history that, West Bengal was always famous for its muslin cloth weaving. Dakhai Jamdani sarees is the variation of muslin weaving.The exceptionally skilled weaving and the the blend of dark and light color combination make the dhakai sarees attract saree loving woman. Here is a saree with Blue and White combination:

Origin of Dhakai Saree: 

The name Dhakai comes from the Dhaka city of Bangladesh. The weaving technique is inhibited  from from Bangladeshi weavers , but the design and motifs have the influence of Persian designs. Jam- means flowers and dani means vases. Due to its appeal, this technique of weaving is widely explored by weavers of West Bengal , as the result of this, now we can see many varieties of  Dhakai Jamdani Sarees.

Motifs and designs in Dhakai Jamdani sarees:

Jamdani sarees have floral motifs in Geometrical shapes. Here you can see the red floral motifs woven on white dhakai jamdani saree:

Closer view of motif:

The special technique of interlacing the threads , is used in weaving motifs of Jamdani sarees. Though Jamdani sarees were weaved using cottons, in the Mughal era, weavers started using zari to weave the Dhakai Jamdani sarees.Here is a saree with Zari weaving :

To meet the current fashion trends, jamdani weavers are using new designs and innovation. This effort of the weavers , is making the Jamdani saree, a designer saree, that every saree loving woman wants to have  in her saree collection.

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana

Sarees of India 2- Kantha Sarees- Pride of West Bengal

This is my second post in series Sarees of India. The first  post is about a Banaras saree.

In this post sharing about Kantha Sarees of West Bengal.

 West Bengal is famous for many kinds of handloom sarees. I can say Kantha saree is pride of West Bengal.

Kantha is kind of embroidery, which was used by Bengali women to make old clothes look attractive.(I will write about Kantha embroidery in the series "Embroideries of India".)

Kantha Sarees are normally available in silk , silk cotton or cotton materials. On plain saree very intricate embroidery is  made with bright color threads. When I visited a craft fest I could capture photos some beautiful Kantha sarees.

Here are some Kantha sarees :

The colorful sarees , with very elegant Kantha embroidery , aren't these tempting ?

This I  liked the most , Black and Orange combination, with leaves patterns embroidered on it.

Yello, Blue , Creme and Pink, which one you liked the most?

 

Last time when I visited Kolkata , I could add some Kantha sarees to my wardrobe. One is green:

I was mesmerized by the motif and the patch work combination .

 

The closer view of the motif: 

Another is creme color , with very beautiful vine embroidery.

 

If you are saree lover , then I feel at least one Kantha saree is must in your wardrobe. What do you opine?

Love , laugh and live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana