Sarees A Look into the History of Women's Clothing in India

							Sarees: The History and
 Patterns of Women’s
   Clothing in India




                Sarah Rossignol
                       EDU 553
                      Fall 2007
What is a Sari?
A Sari is an unstitched and uncut piece of fabric that
is available in a variety of lengths, colors, designs and
fabric. The fabric ranges in size, anywhere between 5 to 9.5 yards
that is loosely tied, folded and pleated. Sarees can be draped in
various ways depending on the different regions of India. Fabrics
of a Sari is dyed and painted using fascinating colors and
pigments. During the early 20th century upper class women
began adopting items of European style clothing as the
fitted blouse and slim petticoat. Adopted due to the fashion of
transparent chiffon Sarees during the 20th century. Sarees plays
an important role in the culture and arts of India.
The History of a Sari
• Origin obscure
   – Thought to be more than 5,000 years old, when cotton was
     first woven into pieces of fabric
• Idea of beauty in Ancient India was that of a small
  waist, large bust and hips
   – The Sari seemed to be the perfect dress to accentuate those
     proportions
• Clothing patterns have changed throughout the world,
  the Sari has survived
   – is the main piece of clothing women in rural India wear
Samples of Sarees
 The Art of Draping
• Most common style of draping a sari is
when the fabric is wrapped around the waist
and the bust then one end is draped over the
shoulder.
• Kaccha Nivi style - pleats are passed through the legs and tucked
   into the waist at the back. Allows free movement while covering the
   legs
• North Indian/Gujarati style - the loose end is draped over the
   right shoulder rather than the left and is draped back-to-front rather
   than front-to-back.
• Maharashtrian/Kache style - center of a sari (held lengthwise) is
   placed at the center back, the ends are brought forward and tied
   securely, the two ends are wrapped around the legs.
The Art of Draping
• Dravidian style – features a pinkosu or a pleated rosette at the
  waist.
• Kodagu style - pleats are created in the rear, loose end draped
  back-to-front over the right shoulder and is pinned to the rest of the
  sari.
• Gond style – fabric is first draped over the left shoulder then
  arranged to cover the body.
• Tribal style – secured by tying firmly around the chest.
• Mundum neryathum style – a two piece sari usually made from
  unbleached cotton and decorated with gold or colored stripes and/or
  borders.
Importance of Draping
• Majority of the arts in India have been studied
   – art of draping fabric to dress the body is the most unique, least
     studied cultural treasure of India
• An ephemeral art form – once the piece of fabric
  has been taken off of the body the particular
  style is lost and the fabric reverts back to a flat
  rectangular form
Types of Sarees
• Each region of the Indian subcontinent over the centuries have
  developed their own unique sari style. Listed below by regions are
  the well known varieties based on fabric, weaving style or motif:
    – Northern Styles:
        • Bandhani involves tying and dyeing pieces of cotton or silk fabric (colors are:
          yellow, red, green and black).
        • Banarsi is considered to be the finest sari of India. They are made from
          finely woven silk and decorated with elaborate engravings.
    – Eastern Styles:
        • Kantha is known for its embroidery which forms or outlines decorative
          motifs with a running stitch.
    – Central Styles:
        • Paithani is characterized by an oblique design and a pallu with a peacock
          design.
    – Southern Styles:
        • Kasuti an intricate traditional form of embroidery.
    Significance of Motifs
• Various designs used in sarees with their own meaning, which
  vary depending on the region.
                  • Conch a symbol of the gods in the form of sound.

• Paisly a symbol that resembles the shape of a mango and is a symbol
of fertility.

              • Elephant traditionally associated with water, fertility, royalty and
                regal power. Also is the god of learning.

•   Rudraksha a seed from a tree that grows in the Himalayas.

              • Parrot is the symbol of courtship and passion.



•   Fish indicate the abundance of food, wealth and children.
The Meaning of Color
• The colors of sarees hold special meaning for
  special occasions.
     • White: worn during ritual occasions. Associated with
       mourning, widows are associated with this color.
     • Red: sarees in this color are commonly worn by brides of
       various castes. This color has several emotional, sexual,
       fertility-related qualities.
     • Green: merchant class was once associated by this color.
       Today this color has Islamic connotations.
     • Blue: associated with farmers, artisans, weavers, and manual
       laborers.
     • Black: not many sarees made in this color it reflected sorrow
       and ill omen.
     • Yellow: represents religion and asceticism. Women also wore
       this color for 7 days after having a child.
    How to wear a Sari
1. At least part of the secret of the sari are the "underneath" garments
a waist to-floor length petticoat, tied tightly at the waist by a drawstring.
(No elastic, please!) And a tight fitting blouse that ends just below the
bust - short sleeved or sleeveless, with a variety of necklines.




         2. Starting at the navel, tuck the plain end of the sari into the petticoat for
            one complete turn from right to left. Make sure that the lower end of the
            sari touches the floor.

         3. & 4. Beginning from the tucked-in end start making pleats
         in the sari, about 5 inches deep. Make about 7 to 10 pleats and
         hold them up together so that they fall straight and even.
How to wear a Sari
5. Tuck the pleats into the waist slightly to the left of the navel
and make sure that they are turned towards the left.



         6. Drape the remaining fabric around yourself once more left to right,
            and bring it up under the right arm and over the left shoulder so
            that it falls to about the level of the knees.




7. The end portion thus draped is the pallav and can be prevented from
    slipping off by fixing it at the shoulder to the blouse with a small
Lesson Ideas
• Elementary (K-4): Classification of Fabrics
   – Visual Art Standard:
      • 2.c use the elements of art and principles of design to communicate ideas
      • 3.b select and use subject matter, symbols and ideas to communicate
        meaning
   – Mathematics:
      • 1.1 Understand and describe patterns and functional relationships

• Upper Elementary (5-6): Story Cloth Activity (drawings)
   – Visual Art Standard:
      • 2.b recognize and reflect on the effects of arranging visual characteristics in
        their own and others’ work
      • 3.a consider, select from and apply a variety of sources for art content to
        communicate intended meaning
   – Mathematics:
      • 2.2 Use numbers and their properties to compute flexibly and fluently, and
        to reasonably estimate measures and quantities.
Lesson Ideas
• Middle and High School (7-12) : Story Cloth Activity
  (sewing)
   – Visual Arts Standard:
      • 2.b apply comprehension and skill in incorporating the elements of art and
        principles of design to generate multiple solutions and effectively solve a
        variety of visual art problems
      • 3.b use subject matter, symbols, ideas and themes that demonstrate
        knowledge of contexts, and cultural and aesthetic values to communicate
        intended meaning
   – Mathematics:
      • 3.1 Use properties and characteristics of two- and three-dimensional shapes
        and geometric theorems to describe relationships, communicate ideas and
        solve problems.
Sources
• http://www.puja.com/sari/hstry/hstry.htm#
• http://www.devi.net/shakti/exhibit/cadrex1.html
• http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/art/kasuti.htm
• http://www.ikkat.com/sareeinfo.aspx
• http://www.answers.com/topic/sari-1
• http://nitawriter.wordpress.com/2007/02/23/411/
• http://edhelper.com/ReadingComprehension_42_68.ht
  ml
• http://countries.mrdonn.org/india.html
• http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/india/
• http://www.devi.net/shakti/sari/expo.html