Before the advent of textile mills in ancient India, every single saree was carefully woven on a hand-operated loom. Also called handloom sarees, they were known for the fine level of detail and the supreme quality of natural fibres used. The making of handloom sarees involves the highest level of patience and hard work to get the desired output. These sarees are delicately crafted using thousands of threads interlaced to create a magical weave. The origin of handloom sarees dates back more than 2000 years. The lost form of Handloom sarees is now brought back to life thanks to many saree curators and prominent designers like Sabyasachi, who emphasise their beauty and its art. Get to know more about handloom sarees and explore some of the latest varieties in this segment.
Importance Of Handloom Sarees:
Handloom sarees speak for the love and passion of the artist. It is a complex, elaborate process that takes tens of hours to weave just one saree. It is considered a form of art that involves choosing the right colours and weaving them in the right pattern on the loom. Women treasure these sarees for their exquisiteness and opulence. The grandeur of these sarees is unparalleled and can never be attained by mill-made sarees. The high quality with which the sarees are made makes them last for a few generations.
Features Of Handloom Sarees:
Here are some interesting facts about Handloom sarees:
- Exclusive Handloom sarees are made only with natural fibres like cotton and silk, making them light in weight.
- Pure handloom silk sarees are woven with real gold and silver threads to add a rich shine.
- There are many types of handloom sarees, which are named after the place of their origin, like the Banarasi saree, Pochampally saree, Dharmavaram, Maheshwari etc.,
- Each of these saree types has a weave special to the region. The type of design, motifs used, and colour combinations vary significantly.
- A typical Handloom wedding silk saree takes about 20-25 days. This shows the amount of effort involved in making them.
Fabrics Used In Handloom Sarees:
Handloom saris are woven mainly with natural fibres like cotton and silk. However, the versions of these fibres vary with the variety of the saree. While pure silk is used to make Kanjeevaram saree, slightly coarse Tussar silk is used to make Tussar Handloom sarees. The quality of the threads and the desired texture make the difference between each variety of saree.
Most Popular Indian Handloom Sarees With Images:
In this article, we will discuss some beautiful Indian handloom sarees along with pictures.
1. Handloom Cotton Saree:
This classic combination of white, black and red can never make you go wrong. The crisp cotton saree is ideal for work wear owing to its style and comfort. It has a beautiful Resham work on the edge of the borders and an elegant palla design. The tassels at the end of the saree add more charm.
- Design: White Cotton Saree with Black and Red Border
- Material: Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Work Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
2. Handloom Silk Saree:
This navy blue handloom silk saree embodies style and glamour. When combined with the modern technique, the traditional handloom weave can result in a saree as stunning as this! The rich hue of the blue is complimented well by the bright shades of pink and red on the border. A run through Zari weave in gold adds a traditional touch to the saree.
- Design: Navy Blue Handloom Silk Saree
- Material: Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Weddings and Occasional Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
3. Banarasi Handloom Saree:
This rich-looking saree can make any woman look no less than a queen. The highly ornate blue Banarasi saree design is intricately woven with gold and silver zari. This heavy saree is perfect for weddings and large scale events. It is best paired with a gold brocade blouse to look like a million bucks.
- Design: Navy Blue Banarasi Handloom Saree
- Material: Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Weddings and Reception
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
4. Handloom Linen Saree:
This soothing combination of blue and green is a treat for sore eyes. The breezy Linen saree is extremely soft and quite lightweight. It is perfect for summer brunches and makes you look effortlessly beautiful. Pair it with a green-coloured cotton blouse to look like a Desi diva!
- Design: Light Blue and Green Handloom Linen Cotton Saree
- Material: Linen Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Work wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
5. Uppada Handloom Saree:
Pink and Green are one of the most popular combinations ever. This stunning Uppada saree lends beauty and glamour to the woman. The natural lustre of this saree is complemented well with a golden zari interlaced with a Pink shade. The saree is best paired with a pink silk blouse to complete your look.
- Design: Dark Green and Pink Handloom Uppada Saree
- Material: Uppada Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Weddings and Occasional wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
6. Off-White Handloom Saree:
Are you looking for some hand work saree designs? This is one of the best ones out there. This off-white saree sports a fantastic allure and can attract almost anyone who looks at it. If you are looking for something alluring, this will be one of the finest sarees with smart grey designs on the lower portion of the saree.
- Design: Off-White Plain Handloom Saree with Pink and Black Border
- Material: Linen Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Work wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
7. Handloom Saree for Wedding:
When you sport this saree, all eyes will be on you. You will be looking ravishing with this alluring designer saree on your body. The pattern that this saree sports with the different sets of colours in the pallu portion are meant to steal the looks. If you are looking for something alluring, this will be one of the finest pieces of handloom beauty.
- Design: Cream Color Jacquard Handloom Saree
- Material: Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Work Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
8. White Floral Pattern Handloom Saree:
Here is a saree that will steal the looks. The awesome floral work on the pallu portion of this saree is something worthy of staring at. It can be suitable for wearing at festive occasions and reception parties. It is one of that saree you can wear with a plain blouse. The floral pattern makes it look more unique and comparatively stylish than the others.
- Design: White Cotton Saree With Hand-painted Palla
- Material: Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Work wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
9. Silk Mixture Cotton Saree:
There is some portion of silk in this saree, which is the primary beauty feature of this saree. The awesome shine sported by this golden saree will keep the viewers interested in this saree. The fantastic vertical beige colour pattern on the border of this saree is very eye-catching and will keep people interested in this designer-looking simple handloom saree.
- Design: Brown Silk Cotton Saree With Golden Zari
- Material: Silk Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Religious Events
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
10. Red Striped Handloom Saree:
This is the first red saree in the best handloom sarees list. The allure that this saree sport will persuade women to sport this saree in the first place. The pattern on the border portion with the golden colour is so amazing that it looks different from all the other handloom sarees on this list.
- Design: Red and Orange Stripes Handloom Cotton Saree
- Material: Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Traditional Events
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
11. Yellowish Handloom Saree:
If you need some good-looking handloom sarees, this will be a good one according to your choice. This handmade saree design is what makes women gaze at it. There is the application of more than one colour in designing this saree. You will be amazed by how this saree looks from the naked eye (when you see it for the first time).
- Design: Multi-Colored Handloom Silk Saree
- Material: Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Religious Events and Occasional Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
12. Brown Handloom Saree:
This is one of the best-looking handloom saree of all time. The way that the borders are done with the help of a different colour is cool, and you will be able to sport this extremely alluring designer saree almost anywhere you go. You’ll be admired for sporting such an amazing saree of fantastic design wherever you carry it.
- Design: Coffee Brown Handloom Cotton Saree With Temple Border
- Material: Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Religious Events and Ethnic Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
13. Artistic Handloom Saree:
Handloom sarees are quite different from the ones that women used to wear before. This is an example of one of the most modern ways to design a beautiful handloom saree. This saree sports a beautiful artistic pattern throughout the body. The awesome pattern that this saree display is something that impresses women in the first place.
- Design: Red Handloom Silk Saree With Rich Palla
- Material: Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Weddings and Religious Events
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
14. Ideal Wedding Handloom Saree:
This saree is a mixture of the most royal colours ever suitable for sporting occasions such as weddings. The blue and golden colour gives out an awesome designer handloom saree that comes with beautiful patterns done with small intricate attachments. If you are looking for something new, this will be one of the best sarees.
- Design: Royal Blue Kanchipuram Handloom Silk Saree
- Material: Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Weddings and Religious Events
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
15. Red And Black Designer Handloom Saree:
Celebrity designer Indian clothing materials have inspired this saree. The inspired ideas have made a masterpiece that can display almost everywhere quite effectively. The infallible combination of black and red with hints of orange is a perfect choice for grand events.
- Design: Red and Black Designer Handloom Saree
- Material: Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Weddings and Occasional wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
See More: Latest Printed Sarees
16. Red Handloom Saree For Indian Women:
Indian women will be more than happy to carry this awesome handmade saree. The saree was sported by one of the most reputed and well-known female celebs, and for all the right reasons, it can be claimed to be one of the finest selections of the handloom sarees out there.
- Design: Red Linen Cotton Handloom Saree
- Material: Linen Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Work Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
17. Alluring Red Plain Saree:
There are many red handloom sarees on this list. They all have unique features, which make them look extremely beautiful, and this one is nothing different. It also comes with a unique pattern done on the border portion of this saree.
- Design: Red Self Weave Handloom Silk Saree
- Material: Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Occasional Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
See More: Brasso Saree With Work
18. Handloom Saree With Floral Designs:
This awesome floral saree comes with intricate applications of different colours, making it look beautiful. The saree comes with a silver Zari striped pattern all over the body and a rich Palla with hints of green. It is best matched with a green coloured blouse to look stunning!
- Design: Red and Black Handloom Silk Saree With Silver Zari
- Material: Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Occasional Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
19. Fluffy Pink Handloom Saree:
The allure that this saree sport is so amazing that all women will be more than eager to sport this good-looking handmade Indian designer women’s material on their bodies. The soberness of the Pink shade is well-matched with the luxury of gold, making it one of the best sarees for simple occasions.
- Design: Pink Handloom Cotton Saree with Golden Zari
- Material: Cotton
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Occasional Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
See More: Handwoven Sarees
20. Colorful Handloom Saree:
The pattern that this handloom saree displays will make women interested in this designer saree primarily. The saree comes with a mixture of more than one colour, which is one of the best facts that makes this saree the last but definitely, one of the best handloom sarees that one can ever wear.
- Design: Yellow Handloom Silk Saree with Temple Weave
- Material: Silk
- Preferred Occasions: Ethnic and Occasional Wear
- Suitable Body Shape: Suitable For All Body Types
Suitable Blouses For Handloom Sarees:
Handloom sarees are best worn with handloom blouses to match the look and quality. Some of these blouse fabrics are popularly worn by modern fashionistas:
- Jacquard Blouse
- Linen Blouse Material
- Printed Cotton blouses
- Banarasi Brocades
- Mangalagiri Cotton Blouse
- Raw Silk
- Cotton Silk
- You can also opt for fancy varieties like Net, Lace etc., for an edgy look.
How To Style Handloom Sarees?
The best way to style a handloom saree is to keep it simple. Layering your saree with heavy accessories can make you look gaudy and strip the beauty of your saree.
- If you opt for Linen handloom sarees, choose a simple cotton blouse and opt for wooden jewellery.
- Crisp cotton handloom sarees can be styled well with a neat blouse and a nice handbag.
- You can try Terracota or German silver jewellery for a muted look with your handloom sarees.
- Wedding sarees can be paired with temple gold jewellery or even a Guttapusalu style necklace.
- Handloom sarees are icons of Indian culture and heritage. Don’t forget to wear your Bindi or bangles to look like the perfect Desi girl to complete your look.
Each piece featured in this article is unique in its way. The type of material used, the weave, and the colour combinations are chosen highly popular with Indian women. The prominence of these sarees is such that it is difficult to imagine an Indian wedding without the bride and her party wearing rich handloom sarees. The beauty of these sarees can never be matched by artificial sarees and are symbols of luxury and royalty. We urge you to choose authentic, certified handloom sarees to get a bang for your money!
