Skip to content
“In the midst of the day, in a tiny town ,There lives a story ages around.. The written tales has been alive, The craft called Chanderi is happiness that shines..”
Chanderi hand weaving is a living heritage. Traditional ethnic fabric known as chanderi is known for its lightweight, sheer quality, and fine texture. By weaving silk and gold zari into regular cotton yarn, Chanderi textiles are created, giving them their opulent, shimmering texture. The fabric takes its name from the small village of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh, where skilled traditional weavers produce textured saris made of cotton and silk and embellished with exquisite zari work. Using a variety of shapes and sizes of needles, the booti or motifs on Chanderi fabrics are mostly woven on a handloom. Different motifs are created using different needles. Weavers will often cover similar patterns in gold, silver, or copper. Swans, fruits, gold coins, and celestial objects are among the motifs used in Chanderi weaving that draw heavily from nature.
The colder white with the shimmering moonlight, Shining through my window mixing with the room light.. The loom was in working as I was busy weaving my dreams right. It was a sleeping night keeping the loud aside..
My warp was so tainted with the burst of happiness in my eyes, Usually assumed a halo that darkens the sight.. Oh! The dream I was seeing ended in spite, A mystical land where my heart has woven so bright
Sheer Chanderi blossoms in my soul with delight.
The Chanderi Saree has long been revered as a beautiful garment that enhances the wearer's elegance and attractiveness while subtly teasing the observers' visual perceptions. From the mentions in the Rig Veda and Mahabharata to the Mughal era's continuous affection for the saree and its inclusion in nearly every other sari lover's collection, Chanderi's old soul lives on in the hearts of virtuosos and the tale endures in weaver villages. Due to their unique designs, these sarees have become cult favorites all over the world.
The craftspeople have their own community known as the 'weaver's mohalla,' where Chanderi's 5000 households are filled with winding alleyways arranged around courtyards, the homes and workshops are combined into a single building. Both men and women work together, controlling threads with their trained fingertips and weaving an almost mind-boggling level of complexity through the cogent clacking of looms accented at odd intervals by traditional songs. There is a clear cluster-based organizational structure in place, with various individuals catering to various activities like creating bobbins, rolling the warp threads on the wooden beam, coloring etc.
The historical tale recounts that Shishupala, a descendant of Lord Krishna and a ruler of the Chedi kingdom, which was located in Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region, invented the cloth first. Additionally, according to a history of Emperor Aurangzeb, the emperor requested a pricey, transparent, soft fabric that was embroidered with gold and silver to be used for a robe. Chanderi, the cloth of the royals, was frequently used to make pagdis and dhotis for the royal males.
Whatever its history, Chanderi hand weaving is a tradition and a living craft. As more Indian designers adopt sustainable practices and rediscover ancient Indian crafts, the demand for it and the love for it both continue to grow. Its appeal can be attributed to a variety of factors, including the allure of the shiny surface melting into gold and silver, the delicate brilliance, and the soft grainy texture.
However, the perfecting of this royal clothing craft is the result of generations of knowledge being passed down and preserved. Its three primary varieties are pure silk, chanderi cotton, and silk cotton. Since ancient times, these fabrics have been decorated with straightforward themes like coins, peacocks, fruits, flowers, and other types of flora and animals.
High-end, extra-fine yarn is used to make Chanderi fabrics. The completed fabric is manufactured with a sheer texture because the raw yarn was not degummed, which makes it quite transparent. The sarees of Chanderi are renowned for their lavish gold borders at the "pallu," and some of them even have gold embellishments with lotus roundels or booti spread out throughout the six yards.
The steps involved in Chanderi weaving are as follows:
1. Creating a fiber:
There are two different forms of designs, One which includes details like the border, the kind of motifs to be used, color schemes, etc. Usually, the party placing the order does this. For the large trading houses, a laminated paper with the pattern, the threads to be used, the placement of motifs, etc., is given to the weaver as a sample. On graph paper, a master weaver creates a more intricate motif or booty design as the other option.
2. Dying:
Since both cotton and silk must be dyed before being used on a loom, dyeing is a crucial step in the entire process.
The first step in dyeing is to dissolve the pre-made, fast-drying dye in warm water. The threads are dipped into this solution, soaked for some time, and then removed. are immersed in the solution once more for a period of time, depending on the grade of the dye.
They are then rinsed in plain water and immersed in a mixture of warm water, detergent, and soda. The threads are then washed a last time and dried by hanging them from bamboo poles. They are returned to the weavers for additional processing when they have dried.
Explore some sheer charms from our Chanderi collection that will definitely be a part of your diva look:
1. Pure like white lilies:
Admire the richness of sheer chanderi in this luxurious off white saree handcrafted with gota patti and hand embroidery. The color is a symbol of purity and is auspicious. Embraced with popular rajasthani gota patti handcraft and embellished zardozi border and pallu. A great addition to your festive wardrobe, this elegant drape looks drop dead gorgeous when complemented with the gold tissue and chanderi silk blouse.
Offwhite Handloom Chanderi Saree With Gota Patti And Hand Embroidery
2. Love the red:
Experience the beauty with the richness of lustrous chanderi in this mesmerizing red pure silk saree handcrafted with tissue border making it an authentic piece. It combined with the same color blouse piece, you can design it in multiple ways. Embrace all your favorite festivals with this handloom chanderi silk, designed by skilled craftsmen. Chanderi Silk Saree is amongst the most ancient and best known handloom art of India. Admire the beauty and drape the piece of royalty for any upcoming occasion.
3. Sage green:
Prepare to be enraptured by the ethereal allure of the Handloom Sage Green Double Shade Pure Chanderi Silk Saree! Meticulously crafted with utmost finesse, this saree captivates with its celestial beauty. The subtle interplay of dual shades of sage green creates a captivating visual symphony, while the intricate sona rupa jaal embellishments exude an air of opulence and grandeur. Every meticulously woven pattern reflects the unparalleled craftsmanship of skilled artisans. Drape yourself in this resplendent masterpiece, and embrace a mesmerizing grace. Enhance its allure with exquisite gold jewelry and a cascading waterfall braid for an enchanting look. Let the Saree's divine elegance shine through, as you radiate an aura of timeless sophistication
Due to their unique designs, these Saree have become cult favorites all over the world. The finished product, which is the result of exquisite craftsmanship, is magnificent and tells volumes about the rich Indian tradition. Chanderi is the beating heart of India. Chanderi is one of the weaving traditions that India is most famous for. a traditional Indian art form that is currently popular. Hand weaving is not the utilization of the warp and the weft; rather, it is a way for a creative individual to express their emotions and create this genuine drape.
Author - Meghna Dahiya
