The Maheshwari saree is a silk and
cotton fabric woven with zari or brocade in various designs. The
intricate designs of the Maheshwari saree include stripes, checks and
floral borders. The saree originates from the town of Maheshwar in
Madhya Pradesh. The Maheshwari material is widely used in designing
sarees, dupattas and dress materials for salwars kameezes.
History
The alluring concept of the
Maheshwari saree dates back to 18th century Madhya Pradesh. They were
produced in the town of Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh . They were
originally made of pure silk but with the passage of time cotton was
also added for these magnificent sarees. Maheshwari sarees shopping still enjoys royal patronage.
There is a interesting legend about
these sarees. Queen Ahilyabai Holkar ordered various craftsmen from
Malwa and Surat to weave a 9 yards saree which later was termed the
Maheshwari saree. They were designed as a special gift for the royals
and relatives who visited the palace. The first saree was designed by
the queen herself. With this royal patronage the Maheshwari saree
gained eminence and was very much in demand.
Inspired By-
Maheshwari sarees drew their
inspiration from the grandeur of the forts of Madhya Pradesh. These
were reflected by the weaves and motifs of the saree. The sarees are
usually plain in the centre with ornate borders or have checks and
stripes in different variations. There are 5 major categories, which
are namely ‘Chandrakala, Baingani Chandrakala, Chandratara, Beli
and Parbi. The chandrakala and baingani chandrakala are plain
whereas the chandratara , beli and Parbi reflect the striped or
checked technique.
Present Day
The Maheshwari saree faced a decline
and was rescued by an NGO called ‘Rehwa “ the craft underwent a
sea change. Under the auspices of Rehwa the market value of the
Maheshwari saree has increased greatly , especially in the
metropolitan cities. It has also found a large export market in UK,
France and Germany.
Innovative Techniques
The Maheshwari saree was largely
limited to red, maroon, black, green and purple in the past. With
experimentation in Indian fashion pastels have been introduced along
with gold and silver threads.
Global Appeal
With the current revival in
Maheshwari sarees they have taken the fashion scene by storm.
Maheshwari sarees shopping is an engaging and rewarding
affair, with the advent of E-commerce. It is popular not only in
India but across the western world with special reference to France,
UK, Germany and US. The demand for these sarees is increasing
exponentially with each passing year.
Facts about the Maheshwari saree
- Reversible borders area characteristic of Maheshwari sarees.
- Natural vegetable dyes are used in making these sarees.
- The sarees are extremely light weight and well suited to the hot and oppressive Indian summer.