Kerala Special Saree

Saree is the most commonly used dress form of Kerala women. The usage of Saree spread very quickly after the period of Kasavu Mundu and Set. Saree can be called as the day to day dress of women of not only kerala but the whole of India. Saree is the official dress in various ceremonies like wedding, engagement and during various festivals in kerala. To wear a saree one needs to practice. Though it is a 5 mtr long cloth it takes great patience to learn wearing a saree. Formerly cream coloured sarees were the trend and later it was replaced by attractive red, meroon boardered sarees. Then Sarees with various colours, designs and materials started available in market.

Now-a-days Kerala's saree market is flooded with sarees like Kancheepuram Silk, Banaras Silk, Cotton, Pure Silk, Polycotton, Semi Silk, Kora Silk, Rose Silk, Organsa, Organdi, etc. and sarees decorated with traditional works, sardosi work, ariwork, Lukhnow work, sequins work, thread work, embroidary work, fabric painting, etc. Eventhough so many different modern dress styles entered in the fashion scenario, wearing saree is considered to be the 'most elegant' for special occassions.

The elegant Kerala Saree, off white with gold border is unique for their natural colour, texture and golden border. These sarees lend an extraordinary elegance to the person wearing it. Every Malayali woman possesses at least one Kerala sari in her wardrobe.

Traditionally women in Kerala also wear a two piece cloth named 'settu mundu', also known as 'mundum neriyathum' with natural body colour and breathtaking border shades, which when worn, exactly look like a saree.

The typical Kerala saree is hand woven and is 100 per cent unbleached cotton. It is known for its fineness of count in weaving. The traditional design of a Kerala saree had a 1 inch to 6-7 inch pallu while the body remained plain. But now the pallu goes up to one metre and the border and pallu is decorated with common designs of animals such as peacock and flowers. The sari is now available in checks, stripes and a wide variety of designs as well as in cotton mixed with silk.

Named after the village of its origin, Chennamangalam handlooms in North Paravur, Ernakulam district is famous for its fine weaving and special effects in the weft direction. Besides sarees, both pure cotton and silk, Chennamangalam also concentrates in the production of settu mundu, earezha thorthu, kavani and super fine double dhothies.

Kasaragod sarees from the north of Kerala are masterpieces made with high quality yarn using traditional hand made methods. It is known for the design, quality, varied colour pattern and ornamented jaris or borders. The weaving is done in a unique style by giving care to the thread and applying a special kind of paste to make the saree strong and long lasting.

Koothampalli in Thrissur district is also well known for its handloom fabric. Here a community of Devangas who immigrated from Karnataka are engaged in weaving. The 'Kasavu Sarees' which are being produced here is mostly with half fine jari and hence more economical. Koothampalli sarees are preferred by the middle class people for its comparative low prices.