Venkatagiri
sarees, a variety of handwoven zari based cotton sarees, is extremely popular
amongst the masses as a light and soft saree with traces of Jamdani patterns.
These cotton sarees are usually available in six yards length and can be worn
in all climatic conditions. The motifs including peacocks, mango, parrots,
leafs and swans on the pallu make the design of the saree unique.
The history of
Venkatagiri sarees originates in the 1700 when weavers at a cluster,
Venkatagiri near Nellore started weaving this variety of sarees. The skilled
weavers and the artisans were encouraged to produce more of these products by
the Velugoti dynasty as well as Bobbili and Pithapuram kingdoms.
The early years
of 1700 witnessed the weaving of Venkatagiri sarees for the royal families, the
queens to be precise. The designs were unique and exclusive and the artisans
were paid high remuneration for each piece of saree. The introduction of Jamdani technique of weaving sarees from Bangladesh has the made the process
much easier and faster.
The production
of a Venkatagiri sarees involves few stages:
- Collection of raw materials like cotton yarn, dye ad gold zari
- Cotton is purified by boiling and making it suitable for dyeing
- Bleaching the white cotton sarees into coloured ones
- Removal of additional dye followed by drying of the cotton yarn
- Making the warp and weft
- Weaving the warp and weft
- Placing the cloth into the designs and motifs
- Cutting the cotton as per requirement
- Inspection of the quality of the saree
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| Traditional Venkatagiri Sarees of Andhra Pradesh |
Over the years,
Venkatagiri sarees has become popular amongst the women owing to its
characteristics such as softness of the material, brightness of the colours and
the royal look. The growth in the demand for Venkatagiri sarees online is a
proof that the majority of weavers in Vankatagiri are earning their livelihoods
by weaving this fabric. The exclusivity and the uniqueness in the weaving
technique of the Venkatagiri sarees make the sarees more popular among the
clients who buy them regularly through online shopping portals. Since the dying
and the weaving techniques are technologically upgraded, the weavers are not
required to travel to towns and cities from their village to get the yarn dyed.
This saves them money and time and contributes heavily towards the production
of Venkatagiri sarees.
Designers, in
the current scenario, are innovating with the materials and the traditional
designs of Venkatagiri sarees. In addition to the existing Venkatagiri zari
cotton sarees, the skilled artisans are now weaving sarees using silk threads
and creating new versions of the Venkatagiri sarees. The use of Jamdani
technique in the weaving Venkatagiri sarees has brought about a massive change
in the design and patterns of the saree. The new silk versions of the
Venkatagiri sarees online are becoming massively popular and earning acceptance
from all across the country.
Fabric experts
suggest that the Venkatagiri sarees should be hand washed gently, preferably
using soft water. These can be given for dry washing as well initially.
Venkatagiri
sarees are exclusive in their designs and are considered to be one of the most
durable ones. These are light and soft and extremely suitable for summers.
However, women wear Venkatagiri sarees in other climatic conditions as well.
Unique marketing
campaigns and branding the Venkatagiri sarees as the preferred choice for
wearing on occasions and casually, has earned customers from across the globe
through online retailing platforms. Women can now order Venkatagiri sarees online irrespective of any particular geography.
