| ola Silk Sarees are one of the finest varieties of | | | | also used to make some geometrical designs. Some |
| handloom silk saree from Gujrat. Patola means queen | | | | ikat sarees are enriched with kundan and zardosi |
| of silks and the sarees are woven with great clarity | | | | sequins for special occasions. The typical feature of |
| and precision making it well known all over the world | | | | the fabric is the brocade like heavy texture. The |
| for highly delicate patterns. Depending on the | | | | pallavs or anchals are elaborate and the dazzling |
| complexity of design and length, a patola saree may | | | | borders are adorned with warm colors and rich |
| take 4-6 months for completion. Woven by master | | | | motifs. |
| weavers on a special type of silk called patola silk, | | | | The double ikat sarees with motifs of parrots, |
| geometric designs with folk motifs and flaming colors | | | | flowers, elephants and dancing figures are primarily |
| are characteristic features of patola sarees. Each | | | | used by Jains and Hindus as wedding brocade |
| patola saree reflects the skill and imagination of the | | | | dresses. Geometric and floral designs are preferred |
| weaver and is exclusive by nature. Patan and Surat | | | | by Muslim communities like Vora as they regard it |
| are famous destinations of patola sarees. | | | | best pure silk bridal wear. Plain dark colored body |
| Way back in 12 th century some salvi weavers from | | | | with motifs of women and bird are special variety of |
| Karnataka and Maharashtra arrived at Patan and with | | | | patola sarees cherished by Maharashtrian Brahmins |
| the patronage from royal and affluent people of | | | | and known as Nari Kunj. |
| Gujrat the art of patola sarees flourished. The sarees | | | | Patola sarees have evolved from the days of |
| became symbol of status and part of wedding | | | | Sultanate and royals and confinement of Gujrat to be |
| brocade dresses and from then on are regarded as | | | | acclaimed as one of the finest piece of fabric and |
| best pure silk bridal wear. Depending on the pattern | | | | work of art that is a treasure collection especially for |
| of weaving there are two types of patola sarees - | | | | women all over the world. Handloom silk saree and |
| Rajokot patola and Patan patola. While the Rajkot | | | | khadi silk apparels from India has their own appeal to |
| sarees are single ikkat and vertically resist dyed, the | | | | various class of people allover the world as they are |
| Patan variety is double ikkat pattern and horizontally | | | | used by various fashion designers as base for their |
| resist dyed. The double ikkat type of weaving is | | | | work. It was very difficult to get hold of an original |
| perhaps the most intricate type of textile weaving in | | | | patola saree as they are woven by handful of |
| the whole world. Both sides of the saree have the | | | | weavers and are not abundant as Indian south silk |
| same design and can be draped in either way making | | | | sarees or printed silk saris. However, with the arrival |
| it unique combination of art silk sarees and printed silk | | | | of various online shopping portals, finding a patola |
| saris. | | | | saree has become easier. These portals have huge |
| Simple traditional handlooms are used for weaving | | | | collection of traditional brocade sarees and special |
| and the dyes are natural colors, extracted from | | | | patola sarees with zardosi or kundan sequins and |
| vegetable. Animals, flowers, human figures and birds | | | | even offer matching blouse piece. |
| give the basic design. Nowadays chemical dyes are | | | | |