Ritu Kumar is the most coveted brand for Indian bridal wear in India and abroad. She is undoubtedly the Empress of Indian haute couture. Ritu not only revived traditional hand craft form such as zardosi, chicken, bandhani and hand block printing within India, but popularized them in the international fashion scene. She is the pioneer of the Indian fashion industry, who ushered in the trend of boutiques and specialized fashion stores.

Her forte lies is fusing traditional Indian handi-craft with contemporary cuts and style, without losing the ethnicity of the traditional craft. Every Indian bride desires to own an original Ritu Kumar outfit for her big day. Her style is unique and incomparable.

Ritu Kumar has been designing for several films and top-notch actresses such as Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka chopra, Lara Dutta, Diya mirza, and Sushmita Sen. Her international patrons include Princess Diana and Jemima Khan. Ritu Kumar brand has also been designing the wardrobes for Miss India's for their participation in International Beauty Pageants. Her outfits have won them awards for the most Outstanding Evening Gown and the Best National Costume. 

For more information on her work, stores and online buying options, please visit her website: http://www.ritukumar.com/

Ritu Beri :

Ritu Beri wears many hats. Not only is she a top-notch award winning designer in both domestic and international scene, she is also the author of the book – '101 ways to look good',serves on the board of Governors at NIFT and an honorary patron of the Savera Association, a charity organization for the cause of women in India.

The first Indian designer to present her collection in Paris, and the only to be featured in Promostyl's magazine Acustyl, she has won several prestigious awards such as, Creative Women of the year , hind Gaurav Award, Bharat Nirman Award, Achiever of the Millennium Award, Gem of India award, and many more.

Her long list of international patrons include the likes of former US President Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, Nicole Kidman, Hollywood actress Andy McDowell, & The Swarovski family only to name a few.

Her client back home are Madhuri Dixit ,Rani Mukherji, Preity Zinta, Shobha De. For more information on her work, stores and online buying options, please visit her website: http://www.rituberi.com/

Rohit Bal:

Rohit bal is sophisticated and unrestrained in his style, which reflects in his designs.

He creatively blends both the traditional and contemporary worlds and creates unparallelled designed for both men and women, using natural and breathing fabrics.

His long list of clientele boasts of celebrities like, Cindy Crawford, Pamela Anderson, Naomi Campbell,  Anna Kournikova and Uma Thurman.

His fashion shows are held in fashion and trade capitals like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, New York, Paris, and Singapore.

"Master of Fabric and Fantasy", Rohit  extensively uses cotton, linen and Khadi. The colors  he uses are mostly pastel and earthy, his style subtle but profound.

For more information on his work, stores and online buying options, please visit his website:http://www.rohitbal.com/

Satya Pual

In his own words, “My inspirations come from life, from the whole of this beautiful world…from thorough historical research, from elements of movement and dynamism, from the trees, birds, rain, music, paintings, sculpture…existence itself.”

The brand is globally sought after for its unique prints, flamboyant yet graceful colors, and fluid materials. Satya Paul is almost as old as the organised fashion industry in India. It was the first brand to work closely with the weavers and craftsmen, to give their craft a global platform.

The brand has successfully experimented and re-invented the traditional sari draping styles many a times. They have launched per-constructed and trouser saris.

The brand Satya Paul is now headed by his son Punnet, who works with the weavers, printers, craftsmen, to marry traditional methods with modern technology and create stunning results. The brand offers exclusive product line of Saris, bridal wear,  western clothing, fusion, and accessories.

For more information on his work, stores and online buying options, please visit his website:http://www.satyapaul.com/

Sabyasachi :

Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the 'new kid on the block' in the Indian fashion Industry, paved his way into Bollywood and the Indian fashion Industry in 2003. He is now one of the most sought after designers in Bollywood as well as globally. He has dressed several actresses such as Ashwarya Rai, Vidya balan, Rani Mukherji. He likes to experiment with unusual fabrics, playing with different textures, recreating the medieval times. He draws heavily from his life and experiences in Kolkata. The essence of his designs can be seen in the detailing of work and vibrant earthy colour palette. Sabyasachi is the only designer to have been invited to showcase at the Milan Fashion Week. He also voted as one of the top ten influential Indians in Asia.

For more information on his work, stores and online buying options, please visit his website:http://www.sabyasachi.com/

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla :

This twosome are one of the first to display their collection  at the  Harrods. Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla label has carved its niche not only in India, but also internationally. Their range of exclusive shawls was sold under the Shakira Caine mark at Harvey Nichols, Harrods in London, Neiman Marcus, Bergdof Goodman in New York and Knightsbridge, UK on the designer floor. Their work is also showcased  at charitable events such as, the Art of Giving Charity chaired by Richard Gere , the fashion show for the British Council`s Enduring Image Exhibition and Save the Children Charity fundraising ball in London.

They enjoy loyal patronage from the likes of  Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia and Parmeshwar Godrej.

The duo was presented with the National award for best costumes for `Devdas`.Their signature style. very Indian, traditional, royal and opulent, is distinguished and unparalleled.

 For more information on their work, stores and online buying options, please visit their website: http://www.abusandeep.com/

JJ Valya :

We are dedicated to new and creative ideas in our product offering. We will continue to develop our unique positioning, to maintain and grow our unyielding brand recognition and to adhere to the highest quality design standards. Valaya has undertaken to show the world the new India, resplendent with the aura of blue blooded elegance, innovative craftsmanship and modern sensibilities. The world of Valaya is different, it is, for us, the only way to be.” so reads the Mission Statement of JJ Valaya.

Valaya is the Monarch of Indian fashion. In order to prevent plagiarism of its concepts and designs, Valaya creations developed a unique pattern that would appear in each and every garment from the Valaya house. This stamp, or hallmark is a novel and significant concept in the Indian  Fashion scene.

House of Valaya is one of India's most respected fashion houses, that offers not just haute couture, accessories, footwear but also other luxury products such as furniture, tapestries, and also cuisine. Valaya can boast of a very high profile client list but prefers to protect their privacy by never flaunting his clientele.

 For more information on his work, stores and online buying options, please visit his website:http://valaya.ehostinguk.com/

Tarun Tahiliani :

With stores all over the world, Tarun Tahiliani, the high-profile designer, has  crossed Indian boundries and has made a prominent mark in the International Fashion fraternity. 

Tarun Tahiliani's brand represents style, craftsmanship, quality and finesse.   Tarun, the master of drape, and one of the most coveted and looked upon  designers in the country has loyal clients in both domestic and international arena. Jamima Khan is said to have commissioned Taurn to design her wedding dress.

Leading ladies of Bollywood like Aishwarya Rai, Shilpa Shetty, Rani Mukherji, Deepika Padukone, Urmilla Matondkar, Soha Ali Khan, have taken pride in sporting a Tarun Tahiliani creation. His bridal collection for both men and women is much sought after. He has mastered the art of rejuvenating the traditional with contemporary appeal.

 For more information on his work, stores and online buying options, please visit his website:http://www.taruntahiliani.com/

The Sari gives a women a sense of luxury, grace, elegance and femininity like no other. Sari is an attire that flatters the female form and if draped well, can also help hide a few faults here and there. A Saree is definitely an attention grabber, whether on the red carpet, or a friend's wedding, or an office party. There is a saree for every occasion. Saree makes the woman wearing it feel like a princess, glamorous, beautiful and special.

Saree is truly the most versatile garment. The same Saree can be draped in several different ways, worn with different kinds of blouses, even trousers, and accessorized in numerous ways. Sarees come in a whole range of different fabrics, colors, patterns, with different prints, work...there is literally no end with the kind of variety one can have in the wardrobe with just a few sarees.

Saree is essentially a drape. A long, unstitched, decorated drape. This gives it a lot of potential to work with. Which ever way one drapes it, it works. This also gives designers a lot of freedom and creative potential to explore. The wearer also can have different looks with the same piece of garment. Thus, though the Saree has been around for centuries, its ways and styles have changed and evolved to suit the current styles, and it continues to evolve and change, without changing the basic elegance and feminine delicacy of the drape.

A few reasons why Saree has survived as a fashion garment over centuries

• It is versatile – The saree can be worn/drapped in several different ways. Within India, there are as many different draping styles, as there are states. To name a few , the Gujarati draping style, the Rajasthani draping style, Bengali draping style, Maharashtrian way of wearing saree, Styles form the South, etc etc. to learn how to drape your saree in different styles, read our article here . Draping is made easy with The Saree Pleat Maker and Saree Magnetic Clips. Apart from the traditional styles, one can experiment with other new ways. Even the older traditional styles can be sported with a contemporary twist.
• It is sensuous and sexy in its appeal – No other garment flatters the female form as the saree. The fluidity of the drape, offers a very feminine and sensuous appeal to the wearer.
• For every occasion – There is a saree for almost all occasions, be it an office party, festival, romantic dinner, wedding, a get-together with friends etc. The saree can be differently accessorized and made to look casual or festive.
• Glamor quotient – One feels special and glamorous like a princess in a saree. The saree is luxurious and flamboyant.
• Variety – It comes in numerous varieties of material, colors, work and style. One can wear it with different kinds of blouses.
• It is constantly re-worked and re-invented by designers, making it more and more contemporary while keeping the essential elegance intact.

And the above are also the reasons why Saree has captured the fancy of many women outside India, and has the potential to become an International Fashion Garment, like maybe the Jeans, or Evening Gowns.

Saree has been ruling the ramp and is all set to conquer the world with its elegance, versatility, and sheer beauty. Therefore, for the very same reasons that the saree has survived the tests of time, it will continue to make its mark in the fashion industry, in new fascinating avatars, for the years to come. To learn more about different draping styles, and how to wear a sari, please read our article here.

Today, silk weaving tradition in India revolves around the sari, the ethnic traditional wear that is worn in most parts of the country. The Indians dress themselves in elaborate and colourful silk sarees on festive occasions. The vibrant colours, light weight, resilience and excellent drape etc. have made silk sarees, the irresistible and unavoidable companion of Indian women. Indian silk is popular all over the world with its variety of designs, weaves and patterns.

How are silk sarees manufactured?

Silk, one of the oldest known fibres is a protein fibre, produced by the silkworm by spinning around its cocoon. The entire process of starting from the eggs till the worms are grown up and cocoons are formed as shown in the diagram below. The silk farmers let the caterpillars that make the largest cocoons, to turn into moths. The moths then laid eggs and the eggs hatched out more caterpillars making even bigger cocoons. Over the centuries, the size of the cocoon has increased and silkworm cocoons are now much bigger than the cocoons of other caterpillars (see picture). At least half a mile of continuous thread may come from one cocoon.

The silk threads are then dipped in colour liquid and used for preparing the colourful silk Saree. Chinese are the ones who started the manufacturing the silk sarees.Out of the numerous species of silk moths, scientists have enumerated about 70 silk moths which are of some economic value. The four commercially known varieties of natural silk are (1) Mulberry silk (2) Tasar or Oak Tasar silk (3) Muga silk and (4) Eri silk.

Although the bulk of world silk supply comes from the silk moth Bombyx Mori which is domesticated, the other varieties of silk are known as wild silk, as they are grown in remote forest trees in natural conditions.

Mulberry silk

Comes from the silk worm “Bombyx mori” which feeds on the mulberry plant. In India, the major mulberry silk producing states are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir.

Eri Silk

Also known as the Endi or Errandi silk is thick, warm, soft, rare and very long lasting. India is a major producer of Eri Silk. It is grown in Assam and eastern parts of India. It is also found in Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. Eri silk is produced by Philosamia ricini that feeds mainly on castor leaves.

Muga Silk

The pride of Assam is known for its natural shimmering golden yellow colour. It is obtained from semi-domesticated multivoltine silkworm, Antheraea assamensis. These silkworms feed on the aromatic leaves of Som and Soalu plants. The muga silk, a high value product is used in products like sarees, mekhalas, chaddars etc.

Oak Tasar silk

Less lustrous than mulberry silk, Tassar silk is used mainly for furnishings and interiors. Tasar silk is generated by the silkworm, Antheraea mylitta which mainly thrive on the food plants Asan and Arjun. It is cultivated in the states of Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Orissa, besides Maharashtra, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. A wide range of silk fabrics are produced at different production centers both Handloom and Powerlooms. A brief account of the range of fabrics is furnished below, as is known by its popular names.

(a) Plain Silk Fabrics

Fabrics ranging from 20 gm to 70 gm are produced in this category using both handloom as well as powerloom. The fabrics are available as per the requirements in different shades as well as in checks and stripes. Beautiful pin stripes are a specialty for shirting. Plain silk is mostly used by exporters for making ladies blouses, fashion garments, made-ups and scarves. Deluxe and super deluxe qualities are also produced as per specific orders.

(b) Dupion Fabrics

A specialty of Bangalore Handlooms, Dupion is the craze of the west. Produced out of twisted filature warp and dupion weft is available in different quality ranges and shades. Dupion checks and stripes are elegant in look. Mainly used for dress material and cushion covers and furnishings, Dupion is a popular name among the overseas silk importers.

(c) Charka Silk

Using filature in warp and Charka in weft a thicker fabric is made on handlooms. For most of the zari decorative sarees charka yarn is popularly used by the sari manufactures.

(d) Chiffon

Using highly twisted yarn, a thin but strong fabric is produced on power looms, which after processing and finishing attains a soft and smooth texture. Chiffons are used for varied end-uses for ladies garments and scarves/stoles.

(e) Chinnon

This is also produced from highly twisted yarn of filature in power loom. After the final processing and finishing the fabric gets a soft but crimp effect. Chinnon is ideal for ladies dresses and scarves/stoles.

(f) Crepe

Produced from 2-ply twisted yarn of’s’ and ‘z’ twist and woven on power loom, crepe is used for varied uses. Mysore crepe saris are very popular in domestic and export front.

(g) Organza

A very thin fabric produced from highly twisted yarn. After a starchy finish the fabric gets a rough texture. Organza is used as sari material as well as for embroidered garments.

(h) Satin

Silk satins are a popular variety of fabric used for a varied end use. When made into dresses, satin gives an elegant Look. Banarasi Satin Saris are popular for export and domestic markets.

(i) Tabby Silk

A type of plain silk fabric produced in Kashmir. Tabby silk is mostly used for printed saris and scarves.

(j) Murshidabad Silk

A popular silk fabric produced in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal. Used mainly for saris and scarves, the fabric is available in different qualities known as 16s, 18s, 20s, and so on.

(k) Matka Fabric

Using Matka yarn for both warp and weft, a thicker fabric is produced mostly for furnishing. The fabric mostly produced in Bhagalpur is a very popular export item at present. By using multiple yarns the texture and thickness of the fabrics can be modified according to the end use.

(l) Ahimsa Silk

usuma Rajaiah, of Hyderabad, has come up with an initiative to produce silk without the killing of silk worms.

The silk sarees of India are among the living examples of the excellent craftsmanship of the weavers of the country. Their mastery lies in the creation of floral designs, beautiful textures, fine geometry, durability of such work and not the least, the vibrant colours they choose for making sarees. Many states in the country have their own variety of makes in silk as well as weaving centres with their traditional designs, weaving and quality. The silk varieties are renowned by the place where it has been woven.

Banaras is one of the leading silk weaving centres in India. Amru silk, Jamvar, Navarangi, Jamdani etc. are the types of Banaras Saris, in which Amru Silk brocades with a heavy pallu of flowering bushes or the flowering mango pattern are very famous.

Maharashtra is famous for its Paithani Silk saris, generally with gold dots design and Kosa silk of Bhandara district.

Patola silk, known as the pride of Gujarat is noted for their bright colours and geometric designs with folk motifs.

Madhya Pradesh is famous for Chanderi, Maheshwari and Tussar silk saris. Specialties of these saris are the contrasting colours and depiction of animal and human figures on the sarees.

Silk Bomkai Sambalpuri saris from Orissa come in single and double ikat weaves. Murshidabad in West Bengal is the home of the famous Baluchari sari in which untwisted silk threadare used for weaving brocades. In the south, heavy silk saris from Tanjore, Kumbakonam and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu are known for their broad decorative borders and contrasting colours. Kancheepuram silks have an enviable position among the best silk sarees in the country for their texture, lustre, durability and finish. Kolegal and Molkalmoru in Karnataka are known for their simple ikat weave with parrot motif on the borders.

Sarees have been a passion for every south Indian female. With regard to the silk sarees in Tamilnadu, it got its name from the location where the sarees were waived. Like kancheepuram, aarani, thirubuvanam etc but now-a-days people look for more and more varieties. Hence thevendors started introducing new patterns in silk sarees, giving new names like vasthirakala, parampara, samuthriga, vivaha; bridal seven etc. Most of them are traditional silk sarees with additional stone work or added colourful embroideries in the silk sarees.

A wide range of ladies and men’s wear like dupattas, sarees, salwars, Sherwanis, caps, handkerchiefs, scarves, dhotis, turbans, shawls, ghagras or lehengas, and even quilts, bedcovers, cushions, table-cloths curtains are made of silk. In short, Silk has been mingled with the life and culture of Indians.