Festivals in India come knocking throughout the year and warrant elaborate prep in terms of decor, feasting, rituals and clothing. These traditional celebrations keep our customs and culture alive and are passed down from one generation to another. An essential part of any festival is celebrating with Indian ethnic wear. And there’s nothing better than Indian Silk clothing to grace a festive occasion. 

Festive ethnic wear has been dominating the Indian fashion industry for ages. People are obsessed with using silhouettes like sarees, suits, lehengas, shararas and even gowns to brighten up a festive setup. Even if people tread towards Indo-western and fusion fashion, nothing beats the charm of delicately woven original silk clothing. 

Scroll down and take a peek at how Indian silks assured by Silk Mark India are perfect to light up a festive affair.

Types of Indian Silks Ideal For Festive Days

Whether it’s Diwali, Onam, Dusherra or Navratri, there isn’t a single festive occasion which doesn’t demand some fabulous, statement-making ethnic wear. We’re spoilt for choices, especially when it comes to pure silk ethnic wear. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, every region has its own silk handloom techniques used to craft unique fabrics. If you’re curious to know which kind of pure silk will suit your style, here’s a tour of our nation’s unparalleled pure silks assured by Silk Mark India that can illuminate any festival. 

Kalamkari 

Kalamkari is a popular textile produced in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The word Kalamkari is derived from a Persian word where ‘kalam‘ means pen and ‘kari‘ refers to craftsmanship. Both states have different styles of Kalamkari patterns. The Andhra Kalamkari borrows design inspiration from forts, palaces and temples of India, along with motifs of animals and birds. While the Gujarat Kalamkari depicts motifs of mythological characters like Krishna-Arjuna from Mahabharata, lord Krishna, lord Ganesha, Lord Buddha etc.

Apatani 

This is a unique weave that comes from the Apatani tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Apatani fabric is well-known for its geometric patterns, angular designs and zigzag patterns on cotton for daily wear and silk for festive occasions. The textile is especially unique because it is weaved by The Apatani community using different leaves and plant resources for organic dying. 

Bhagalpuri Silk 

Bhagalpuri Silk weaving has been popular in Bihar for over a century. It is also known as Tussar silk as the fabric is woven from threads produced from tussar silk cocoons that are further dyed colourfully. It is one of the finest varieties of silk in India. The fabric not only stands out for its colours but also because of how comfortable it is to wear despite being a bit heavy.  

Kanjeevaram Silks

One of the most popular and loved silks produced in Tamil Nadu, Kanjeevaram has its special fame for its quality, both in-country and abroad. Also known as Kanchipuram silk, it is known for its unmatched lustre and elaborate zari work. Kanjeevaram silk sarees are the only sarees where gold is still used in zari weaving, making it one of the most expensive kinds of silk saree in the world, perfect for celebrations like festivals and weddings.

Kosa Silk

Also known as ‘desi silk’ in Sanskrit, Kosa silk is made from extremely rare worm cocoons that are grown on trees like Saja, Sal and Arjun. This pure silk is mostly grown in Chattisgarh’s Champa district and is exclusively produced in India. It’s widely known for its sturdiness, purity and soft texture. 

Also Read: Say Hello To Silk Mark Assured Pure Silks- Adding Glitter To Weddings! 

Muga Silk

Muga silk is one of the rarest silk in the world and a variety of wild silk is produced in the state of Assam. The silk is known for its extreme durability and a natural gold tint on its shimmering, glossy texture. Though previously reserved for the use of royalty, this silk is now available for everyone to relish. Muga silk, like other Assam silks, is used in products like sarees, mekhalas and chadors. 

Banarasi Silk

Banarasi silk is a variety of pure silk originating from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. An authentic Banarasi silk saree is an asset for the modern Indian woman. Woven from the finest silk yarn with precise attention to detail by talented artisan weavers, pure Banarasi sarees are one-of-a-kind. A Banarasi Saree is a favourite among brides owing to its royal aura. 

Bandhani Silk

The crown jewel of Rajasthani and Gujarati textiles, Bandhani silk or Bandhej has its roots as far back as the Indus Valley Civilization. Originally, it was made by the Khatri communities of Gujarat. Bandhani silk is known to the world for its beautiful tie-and-dye pattern. Bandhani is a method of binding small knots and dyeing them in different colours to produce beautiful patterns.

Kuchai Silk 

Kuchai is an organic, traditional Indian silk fabric from the Kharswan region of Jharkhand state. The silk is churned out from the best silk cocoons of India and has been in high demand recently. The cocoon for this silk grows on Sal and Arjun trees and is the first Indian fabric to receive an international organic silk registration loved by silk connoisseurs all over the world.

Mysore Silk

Mainly produced in the Mysore region of Karnataka, Mysore silk is produced using mulberry silk.  The silk is patented and produced by Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Limited. Its products include silk sarees, shirts, kurtas, silk dhoti, and neckties, among others. It is best known for its quality and craftsmanship and is traditionally woven with pure silk and gold zari. 

Read More: The Ultimate Modern Bridal Wear: An Insight Into What’s In Vogue 

Kasavu Silks 

The pride of Kerala, Kasavu silks are traditionally off-white and gold, famously worn by Malayalee women and girls on Onam. Kasavu refers to the golden zari border on the mundu-saree that is hand-woven from 100% unbleached cotton or silk. These sarees feature kara and line designs at the bottom, and sometimes peacock and temple designs on the pallu. 

Chanderi Silk

Chanderi silk traditionally comes from Madhya Pradesh. The silk’s popularity comes from its several mentions in Hindu Mythology. Weavers produce Chanderi silk by weaving in silk and cotton Zari in the traditional cotton yarn. This lends the fabric its popular and highly coveted shimmering texture. The fine zari work by the skilled traditional weavers in the Chanderi village lends its name to the fabric. It earned the name ‘woven air’ during the Mughal era for its lightweight texture and sheerness. 

Paithani Silk 

This hand-woven pure silk hails from the region of Paithan in Aurangabad of Maharashtra. It has an age-old affinity to the royalty of Maharashtra. The intensive process of weaving a paithani silk saree results in a fabric of unparalleled beauty that looks the same on both sides. Its cultural significance and history have made it an integral part of Maharashtra’s festivity!

Phanek Silk

Phanek silk is traditionally used to craft Manipuri costumes. The Phanek is a traditional loin cloth worn by Manipuri women, especially those of the Meitei community, wrapped around like a sarong. Phanek clothing is made of fine silk yarn,  intricately designed with precision and care. It is comfortable to wear and lightweight, making it ideal for special occasions and festive events. 

Sambalpuri Silk 

Sambalpuri silk sarees are famous in Odisha and produced in the Barghar, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Bolangir and Boudh districts of the state. Woven in ikat form, the yarn is first tie-dyed and then woven into a beautiful fabric. Varieties of Sambalpuri silks include varieties of silks by the names of Sonepuri, Pasapali, Bomkei, Barpali and Bapta. 

What is Silk Mark & How Does it Help?

Due to their popularity, Indian silks have become the victims of poor duplicates and fake impersonations. It has become harder for a customer to find authentic, pure silk. However, thanks to Silk Mark Label, finding yourself an authentic pure silk garment has become easier. 

Silk Mark Label is the world’s first and only label of purity of silk from the Government of India. It is a label affixed only to 100% pure silk products after due diligence. The authenticity of Silk Mark is assured by the Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI).

Checkout: When Glamour Weds Craft & Culture- Weddings & Traditional Silks 

According to their guidelines, a 100% pure silk product is one in which the base fabric, both warp and weft, is made up of any of the 4 varieties of natural silks namely, Mulberry, Tussar, Eri and Muga Silk.

For those looking to purchase authentic silk products, the Silk Mark Label makes it easier to buy high-quality, pure silk sarees. Moreover, as buyers, the Silk Mark Label helps us fulfil our responsibility to support the livelihood of almost 10 million marginal farmers, reelers, dyers, weavers and craftsmen across the country involved in the silk industry.

Final Thoughts

Festivals are moments of joyous celebration for anyone and everyone who wishes to put their best fashion moment forward. There’s no better way to honour your traditions and roots than by wearing an authentic Indian silk clothing item. However, one must ensure that the silk is pure and original, which is why you should choose to purchase products with the Silk Mark Label.  

So, if you’re someone who loves donning silk during the festive season, we highly recommend you buy a product that is Silk Mark assured by the Government of India. And if you’re ever doubtful of which store to visit, you can always check out the Silk Mark website to find out what all brands carry pure silk products that have been assured by the Silk Mark Organisation of India!

For more bridal inspiration & ideas, check out WeddingBazaar's Pinterest page. 

---