Comments on: It isn’t even April 1st yet!

By: flygirl

flygirl — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:27:45 +0000

MD @ #35, LOL. Polyester, mmmmm…classy! Reminds me of the stunningly beautiful Pakistani lady who lived next door to us in Tasmania in the 80s – and insisted on wearing huge, baggy salwars to the corner store. This was quite an event in suburban Hobart at the time, I can tell you.

Love this post and keeping a weather eye open for more tips on the best places to buy s saris in India. Any tips for Bangalore?

Anna, that kanjeevaram is stunning !

By: SK

SK — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:42:42 +0000

I maintain sareedreams.com, a blog about saree designs and designers and I don’t know how missed this one! . Thank god, your friend clicked on the link and not on the “Live Help” icon!

The latest fashion these days among saree designers is to call their saree collection something innovative & strange, doesn’t matter if the collection has anything to do with the term or not. Like the one I saw today from Viraji Bajaj called “Desi Funk” and it was neither desi nor funky!

Re. Moonga Saree, I can tell you with some confidence that Moonga is a type of silk. Trust me, you do not want to know how silk is produced but suffice it to say that it is a silk with characteristic fiber properties.

It is produced in Assam and in MP and in Rajasthan. At times, Assam Moonga silk sarees would be taken to Rajastan for embroidery.

By: aranyi

aranyi — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:56:55 +0000

ashavalli saris from gujarat are also beautiful woven silk saris. if you prefer something a little more lightweight, bandhinis from gujarat and rajasthan, and now gota (a year before, but also now since jodha akbar) saris are really pretty (gota is the silver/gold ribbon border). also lehriya (striped) SARIS, GENERALLY ON GEORGETTE, from rajasthan.

By: Mytri

Mytri — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:00:53 +0000

Thanks Yogi! You will never know how special your name is to me! But unfortunately I am in Bombay from 11pm – 3am waiting for the NWA/Jet flight to take me to Bangalore

Dad! Thanks for the update. I went online and am in luuuuuuuuuurve with patolas now. You are from Maryland? Hey, if I get to gawk at Yo Mom’s sarees, you are just a 3 hour drive away And our Spring Break is just coming up. http://www.patanpatola.com/inside.html I am still drooling over the sarees they are displaying. Also, I had NO idea that ikat spanned from Andhra/Orissa to Gujarat. Do you know that when I worked in the Smithsonian, one of the curators was working with Ikat patterns from Bali, no less.

By: Yogi

Yogi — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:43:56 +0000

Sorry for repeating the last line twice. Note to self: proof read before posting.

By: Yogi

Yogi — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:39:51 +0000

I still have not found an occasion to wear the saree!! This visit I shall buy some pearls since the Maharashtrians wear pearls for all their functions .

Gold works too but pearls would be even better. If you are in Bombay go to Paranjpe motiwale. (pearls==moti in marathi) they have some ready made stuff and could also make one from a design that you have.

Also in Bombay check out the World Trade Center at Cuff Parade, they have many regional state government emporiums under one roof, and have good sales around Diwali, so you (or someone who can shop for you) can buy Paithanis, Patolas, Kanjeevarams and almost anything else you can think of. Also check out Khadi Gramudyog’s main emporium in Colaba, great cottons and silks. Also great for sarees is Kala Niketan, I think they have a couple of stores in Bombay, I know for sure there is one on Queens road (M K Road now)near Marine Lines. I don’t know if you are from Bombay, if you are, probably already know most of this stuff anyway.

Mytri: If you are from Bombay then you already know this info

By: Yo Dad

Yo Dad — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:47:01 +0000

Thanks Anna for kind words. Margin fades and Mytri: I wish my life partner had time to help you out. Just by tagging along with her (and of course – to provide the dough)I have learnt few things about Sari. Save all your money and go for “Paatan Patola”. We visited Paatan, a mere two hors drive from Ahmeabad (Gujarat) some years ago. There is only one family left who makes genuine Patola. They make it after you order – costs around 1 to 1.5 lakh rupees (~ $3000 to $4000). Late Mrs. Indira Gandhi when she was alive – visited this dude to buy one. Come to Ahmedabad next winter and we can show you places where you can easily spend all your AMREEKEN DOLLARS – and buy gorgeous Sari.

By: Mytri

Mytri — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:23:47 +0000

Margin: I finally gave up all pretense of pride and begged my Marathi dentist/friend to buy me a Paitani. I have never seen one so beautiful! I told her I wanted an old traditional color. I got a blue with red border with peacocks on the palloo. I still have not found an occasion to wear the saree!! This visit I shall buy some pearls since the Maharashtrians wear pearls for all their functions . Without daughters, I need credible reasons to justify expensive purchases, to MYSELF!!!!!!

By: Margin Fades

Margin Fades — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:24:04 +0000

The latest I read few days ago is that most popular Sari these days in India is what they call “MOONGA SARI”. I guess it’s a name of some village in Assaam.

YoDad – moonga/muga is the generic term for an Assamese raw silk sari, I believe – I’ll vet that with my mom. She’ll be delighted to know that the mugas she’s been collecting over the years are back in style!

Tegardless of what fashion comes or goes, I love the regional silks. Whether they’re simple prints from the south, or kanjeevarams, or benarasis, or mugas…love ‘em all. And chiffons too. Not as a big a fan of the overpriced synthetic spangly stuff that I find in Hillcroft. Now if I could just find a source for some silks from western India…any ideas, folks?

Oh, and ladies? Let’s not forget about The Sari Project – strut your stuff!

By: me

me — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:59:43 +0000

oh those poor poor people at sarees online, look what's happened now