Let us take you on a journey with us.....Kaarwaan….. Our cultural and artistic endeavor.
"We travel initially to lose ourselves and we travel next to find ourselves.
We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers can accommodate." Pico Iyer
How accurate is Pico's quote!
Have you ever wondered how a Saree is made? Who put in all the hard work and time to craft it? What made them choose their style, the cuts, colours and prints.
In India, we have a very rich history of handlooms and textile. For ages, weavers have been creating beautiful works of art. But over time, we have lost the ability to tell the stories of these artisans and the beautiful work they create. For Sarees is a tribute to these artisans and the stories they bring to the world.
We are on a journey to explore and celebrate Indian craft. Join us, as we promise to bring the best of rural crafts from weaver’s home to yours.
Every region in India has a weave to boast about, as well as a rich history. As though speaking a language without saying a word, each region of India has developed its own handloom style.
Heart of India/Madhya Pradesh cluster:
We started our journey from the heart of India—the land of tigers and beautiful weaves—Madhya Pradesh. The first cluster that we took on board was from Chanderi, a town known for its sarees charming everyone in pleasing colours with a gorgeous golden border.
Then we contacted clusters from Maheshwar. It is believed that Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar (1725-1795) imported weavers from Surat to produce cloth for the royal family, and they invented the fabric. No doubt, you feel like royalty while wearing a Maheshwari saree.
We are proud to be associated with artisans in Ujjain, who create wonderful Batik creations for us.
Magnificent Bengal/West Bengal Cluster:
Bengal has exhibited free-spirited artistic talent from time immemorial, with a vast multicultural heritage reflected through its various handloom techniques. The unique art form emerged from the rural life of Bengal, which is reflected in its diverse patterns, designs and styles. We have been working with the clusters from West Bengal for the past 4 years. Kantha from Shantiniketan is one of our most popular sarees. We know you will agree when we say, Linen from Burdwan is the comfiest. The magnificent Jamdani from Burdwan never fails to steal the show.
Handloom Treasures of Gujarat:
We value working with local artisans, many of whom are micro entrepreneurs. We have made close ties with a skilled weaver from Bhuj, Gujarat who makes exquisite Bhujodi sarees by hand. During the difficult times of Covid-19, we reached out to the artisans from this region and they continue to produce high quality fabrics that allow us to create truly one-of-a-kind clothing for our customers.
Recently we introduced some lovely Kutchi hand bells! Our next designs were inspired by a historic embroidery technique associated with one of India's most exciting regions - Gujarat.
The 'SUF' embroidery method uses symmetrical and geometric designs built up from multiple triangles and diamonds. What makes this type of embroidery special is that it requires a skilled artisan to do it by hand.
Which means there has to be an excellent understanding of geometry as well as excellent vision! Suf cluster from Kutch, Gujarat (all women) is the latest addition to our growing community of weavers and artisans.
There is no dearth of talent in India. The craftsmanship and the skill of our artisans needs to reach different people across the globe. We at Forsarees want to showcase this talent across geographies.
Rice Bowl Of India/Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Cluster:
The peculiarity of Pochampalli cloth, also known as ikat or tie and dye weave, is in the transfer of design and coloration onto warp for skilfully weaving them together. Silk sarees are very well-known here. Our cluster from Pochampalli makes the most gorgeous cotton ikat sarees.
Thanks to increasingly advanced technology and the internet, things that seemed unattainable before can now be achievable. The ongoing pandemic had made it difficult to travel anywhere, so we used web tools to connect with our artisans and discuss what was needed.
Clicking play on a video call meant that their words could easily be translated into instant work orders. Kappaladoddi is a village in Krishna District of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
It is known for its Kalamkari work, which is a traditional hand-painted fabric, famous for its incredible range of brilliant colors and beautiful motifs. Eventually - Kappaladoddi became one of our finest offerings.
Heart Warming/Uttar Pradesh Cluster:
The weavers of Mubarakpur are expert at creating a fabric that is both delicate and strong. Our customers love our Mubarakpur saree.
Applique work entails intricate embroidery. An important and beautiful pattern is created by sewing several motifs and patterns on a piece of fabric. We are in association with a cluster who masters the art of applique.
The stitches are one of the most noticeable aspects of Lucknow chikankari work. Every stitch is meticulously executed, and the level of neatness in the craftsmanship is unrivaled. The saree has a look of richness and skillfulness thanks to the delicate and beautifully done hand embroidery.
Here at Forsarees, we make a humble attempt in exploring and getting an insight into some of the most prominent Indian weaving clusters, their crafts, their history, culture.
When you buy a handmade saree, you're bringing a piece of history home with you for future generations to enjoy.
Come embark on our Journey into the passionate world of Indian Handlooms.