Timeless Appeal of Traditional Weaves:
Benarasi Brocade
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Benarasi Brocade is one of India's most treasured handlooms that celebrates history and elegance.
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Benaras was the cotton-weaving centre. But in the 1600s, skilled weavers from Gujarat carrying silk and zari threads settled here.
Video Credit: Getty So, how old really is the art of the Benarasi Brocade as we know it today? Perhaps, as old as handloom itself!
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These fabrics are created using a pit loom where silk threads are laid on a frame repeatedly to create intricate patterns.
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Some popular patterns we see even today are konia or paisley motif, motifs of hunting scenes and animals like parrots and deer.
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Depending on the technique and design, a Benarasi saree can take between 15 days and 8 months to create.
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Benarasi Brocade has seen a revival over the years. It's seen not just on sarees, but on lehengas, blouses, dupattas, and jackets as well.
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Benarasi sarees today are an essential trousseau piece because of their opulent nature and exquisite zari work.
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No doubt the value of these pieces is really high and some of them can cost you a fortune. But the price is worth the investment.
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Many designers such as Sanjay Garg of Raw Mango and Ritu Kumar have revived the dying art of handloom Benarasi Brocade.
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Design houses like Ekaya have built their brands around beliefs that a Benarasi cloth is the closest to holding a piece of history in your hands.
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