Sari Styles & Fabrics

The sari is a traditional Hindu dress worn today by a majority of Indian women. In recent times it has also been gaining popular acceptance in countries of the west and has come to occupy a distinct place in designer fashion collections as well. Given that it is worn daily by over 35 million women, it is no wonder that many styles of draping a sari have evolved over the years. Here’s a look at some of the most common as well as fashionable sari draping styles out there today.

Nivi Style: Made popular by Andhra women, this is the most common form of draping a sari. It consists of tucking one end of the sari into the petticoat at the navel and then wrapping the sari around the legs once, from right to left. This is followed by pleats that are tucked into the petticoat just left off the navel. Finally the last yard of the sari is once again turned around the waist and casually draped over the left shoulder to form a pallu.

Gujarati Style: : Similar to the Nivi style of wearing a sari except that the pallu is draped back-to-front over the right shoulder instead of the left.

Maharashtrian Style: : In this form of wearing the sari, the center of the sari fabric is tucked into the petticoat at the middle of the back. The two ends of the sari are wrapped around the legs and then tucked in at the front. This style is worn by Brahmin women of Maharashtra and south India.

Kodagu Style: : Almost the opposite of the Nivi in that pleats are made at the back rather than in front. The pallu is draped back-to-front over the right shoulder as with the Gujarati style.

Gond Style: : In this method, the process of wearing the sari starts with the draping of the pallu over the shoulder. The remaining sari length is then used to cover the legs.

As with styles, saris are available in a variety of fabrics ranging from simple everyday wear materials to exotic fabrics meant for designer wear. When worn as an everyday garment, most women prefer wearing either pure cotton or a combined textile which is largely cotton based. This allows for easy breathing in hot and humid conditions. For special occasions, silk saris are a hot favorite. Pure silk can be slightly expensive but lends a luxurious finish. Crepe silk is another popular variety of silk saris. Chiffon is a soft fabric that takes the shape of the body and is therefore preferred by women with a well shaped figure. Saris are also available in synthetic fibers such as nylon, rayon or polyester which are fast becoming a favorite for everyday wear since they have anti-wrinkle properties that do not necessitate ironing.

With so much choice in terms of styles and fabrics, the sari is undoubtedly bound to become an integral part of the world fashion scene in years to come.