apparel, Art and Crafts, Art Forms, collaboration, Saree, Uncategorized

PATOLA: THE QUEEN OF ALL SILKS

Saree have been a part Indian tradition since its very existence. Every Indian women adorns a Saree. We here in India have a variety of sarees varying in traditions, cultures and different occasional importance. Sarees find a special place in every womens’ wardrobe. We in India grow listening or seeing mythological figures like Sitaji and Parvatiji wearing sarees. Hence, it has become a very important part of the Indian culture that has been engraved into us since we are born. Every Indian household sees atlest two of its elder generations wearing Sarees.

Although with cultural drift takling palce, lesser women are adorning this beautiful piece of art, yet we see fashion designer across the globe experimenting with it- making it more and more suitable for today’s generation. Hence, one can say that sarees still remain to be an important part in every Indian women’s wardrobe.

Silk sarees are the most loved in India and are considered to be favourable for auspicious occasions.

Patola sarees which is known as “the queen of all the silk sarees” have been in trend since ages and still being highly valued by the modern women. It has become a classic collection in itself”.

chelaji re mari hatu patan thi patola mongha laav jo, ema ruda re moraliya chitraav jo”- This is a famous gujrati song which depicts a wife telling her husband to get her beautiful Patan patolas with peacock motifs. Every gujrati women has a patola saree in her wardrobe, it is considered a must have from its traditional significance point.

Patola sarees are originally made in Patan, but now we can find Patola weavers in other cities too. The significance of these Sarees lies in its making. It takes months to weave a Patola saree. The process is a double ikat style weaving- the warp and weft are first dyed in the required patterns and then woven. It is a very intricate process where the threads are bundled together in small strands and tied and dyed as per the design. More the colours and more the intricacy in patterns, more time it takes.

The motifs of Patola traditional including elephants, flowers , kalash (pots) and peacocks. Each motif has a different name which describes the type of Patola.

In the early 1930s, Patola sarees were sold at Rs 120 but with time and decline in the no. of weavers the cost of the sarees has gone up. But now a days, a simple original double ikat Patola would cost around Rs 2lakhs.

With the fall in patronage a lot of weavers left the practise inorder to find jobs. Presently, only a single family – the salvis from Patan are practising the artform. Although efforts from various fashion designers have made patola even more stylish today making a suitable market for it. We all must have seen famous celebrity Shobhaa De adorning a beautiful Patola at many events. It has made its way into the wardrobe of youngsters in form of scarfs and dupatta.

Another famous saying relating to Patola is- PADI PATOLE BHAT, FATE PAN FITE NAHI“.

It means that colour of the saree is so bright and natural that the saree may tear away but it would never fade its colour. All dyes used in the patola are made from natural ingredients. Wax, indigo, pomegranate bark, katho, majith, kapilo, alum, kirmaj, harsingar, bojgar, iron rust, logware and turmeric are the different natural dyes are used in making a Patola.

Patola sarees are so costly that they are considered to be an asset equal to a lady’s gold jewellery. Hence they are gifted to the bride during her wedding by her in-laws and it is a very important part of a girl’s trousseau.

Patola sarees are aesthetically beautiful the motifs are not very clear with straight lines but appear with crooked lines and blur, this itself brings out the beauty of a patola saree. It has almost become a distinguishing feature of a patola saree.

No matter how many styles and trends come into the limelight, the Indian sari will never lose its grace, beauty and elegance. Indian women wearing a saree look graceful, beautiful and elegant. The fashion attire has spanned ages in India and still exists as a quintessential element in every Indian women’s wardrobe.

While traditional clothes are still being worn in the rural India, urban India is changing rapidly, with international fashion trends adopted by the young and glamourous Indians.

Inspite of these changes certain cultural heritage like the Patola Sarees from Gujrat remains to adorn and fascinate not only Indian designers but also designers abroad. Hence, the closer we go to our roots we come closer to beauty and eternity.

 

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