Saree is one of the best recognizable of traditional Indian women wear. This is a piece of clothing which is 5 meters in length and 24 inches in breadth. The length and the breadth can be more depending on how it is used. Since it is draped in different ways in different parts of the country, it is possible that the length and breadth of the saree may vary significantly. The saree is seen less in parlance today than it was in the yesteryears when it was the major clothing used for wearing. However, even now a sizeable population wears this piece of clothing. Saree, which is an integral part of the Indian culture, is also liked and worn by Indian women living abroad. With it having such an important part and place in our cultural system, it is often wondered how it was first thought of and made.
Experts opine that saree was in use in the Vedic times, during the times of Indus Valley Civilization. This dates back to about 2500 BC. However, there are certain other experts who pre-date the times of Lord Krishna to more than 10000 BC. One particular incident relating to Mahabharata where Lord Krishna increases the length of Draupadi’s saree proves that Sari was in prevalence long back, much before the Indus valley civilization.
The first sarees were made from the cotton fabric. It is quite understandable that these must have been made when cotton crop began to be grown and the weaving techniques were well established during the civilizational period.
So, if there is one piece of clothing in India which has been continuously worn since thousands of years, this is the saree. It is so deeply ingrained in the life of the womenfolk here that even today this is adored as a clothing of grace. This is worn not just by the people of India but also by the people of whole Indian subcontinent as its culture evolved collectively. Therefore, it is commonly found to be worn by other countries of the region.
It is interesting to find so many different variations of draping a saree throughout this region. This clearly shows that the people have been able to innovate the use of this piece of clothing not just for hiding their modesty but also to wear it with style and aplomb. A number of innovations have been done to the saree. These are being made not just in cotton, but also in silks, blends and other woven fabrics. A number of surface decoration methods have also evolved over a period of time. From the plain fabrics to the prints and even to the embroidered ones, the saree is now adored in many different ways. It is not wrong to say that the ubiquitous saree still goes strong and has evolved into many avatars.
Indian Women Clothing 