All hail the queen bee of fabrics — silk! It is the epitome of silent luxury. The flexible part is that one can use it to their aesthetic — bold and silent, or calm and silent… whatever the look demands, give it all with a pure silk saree.
It takes quite a journey for luxurious silk sarees to be weaved into such a delicate beauty it is. They are weaved with modern innovations, following centuries-old techniques. Let us dive deep into Sericulture.
The Enigma of Sericulture
Sericulture roots back to the Chinese culture, where silk crafting was guarded as a secret. It was around 3,000 BC that Lady Hsi-Ling-Shih discovered this art and initiated a legacy. It was preserved with utmost secrecy as it was an economic treasure.
The Intricate Sericulture Process
Making silk sarees requires a lot of patience and is a meticulous affair. It is a very demanding process requiring specific conditions and exclusive expertise. The temperatures, too, need to be highly controlled, starting from 65ºF and gradually rising to 77ºF.
Silkworms are known to feed on mulberry leaves and grow enormously within a month. Hoarding and farming them is a quantitative boon altogether for silk saree production.
Unveiling the Silk Filament: From Cocoon to Fabric
Silk filaments are extracted from the steamed cocoons and unwinded slowly. The production processes adopted are usually cruelty-free Ahimsa silk.
After the silk cultivation and extraction, the silk filament goes through a series of steps before it becomes a saree. The steps are —
- Sorting and Spinning: The extracted silk fibres can range to more than three hundred metres in length. They are assorted as per quality and spun into silk sarees making threads. The finer and best-quality threads are usually reserved for the best quality pure silk saree fabric.
- Dyeing: After fabricated strongly, the silk threads are dipped in natural dyes of the desired colours. The skilled artisans often create various ombre shades and gradients with smart dyeing manners to meet the design requirements.
- Designing and Weaving: The design process is the crux of the saree industry both as a manufacturing/distributing business as well as an art. Nowadays, manufacturers use AI (artificial intelligence) based digital designer software to develop newer saree designs.
The weavers target patterns, motifs and various weaving techniques according to the audience’s general liking. Traditional handlooms or power looms are preferentially used for weaving, depending on the level of craftsmanship, the specificity in demand and the type of saree produced.
- Embroidery and Embellishments: Silk sarees are often embellished with additional accessories such as embroidery, beadwork, or sequins to enhance their overall appeal. Such beautification is optional, however. These are specially used for bridal or festive wear, such as the insta-friendly drapes of silk sarees online. The plain pure silk saree that exudes calmness is often considered formal/office/light wear.
- Finishing Touches: Finishing touches are essential to make the sarees consumer-friendly. Therefore, washing, starching, and ironing are needed for its final professional appearance and texture.
- Quality Check: Each saree ideally goes under a tight quality check to ensure it meets the desired standards regarding tensile strength, colour, design, durability, and overall finish.
- Packaging and Distribution: Once the sarees pass quality control, then the branding happens. They are carefully packaged in branded boxes and distributed to markets or directly to silk sarees online customers.
The Saga of Silk Smuggling and Revelation
There are a lot of stories and truths about silk and its cross-border smuggling. In 550 AD, Emperor Justinian led two monks as spies to China. They smuggled silkworm eggs back, hidden in a hollow bamboo cane. This act of audacity marked the dawn of silk production beyond China.
In India, several regions are renowned for fantastic silk saree weaving, such as Varanasi, Kanjeevaram silk from Kanchipuram, and Mysore silk from Karnataka, etc. To retain the beauty and craftsmanship, modern techniques are used to produce high-quality exquisite sarees at a faster pace.
