The Sari (Styles, Patterns, History, Techniques)

Covering the entire Indian subcontinent and including remote and restricted tribal areas such as the north-east it provides analysis of thousands of sari types from different cultures around India. The simplicity of the sarian untailored length of cloth measuring between four and nine meters long by approximately one meter wideis set against a wide variety of fabrics colors patterns and draping styles. There are diverse regional traditions of color pattern and weave analyzed here through a six-fold division of the Indian sub-continent: the West the East the North-East and the Himalayas the Eastern Deccan the South and the Western Deccan. Each section is accompanied by a display of photographed sari types. There is a detailed analysis of sari design giving a guide to the symbols patterns and motifs used together with their origins and information about how they have evolved. Many rare and unusual saris are featured. There are translations given of Indian words and concepts.