Banarasi sarees are heritage for a reason, it is that one weave where the saree unifies the culture and art of the whole nation in one place while also carrying the global routes it has travelled from before becoming our own Banarasiya. While banarasi sarees have an eye-catching quality and captures the imagination of those who think of elegant bridal finery and luxurious occasion wears, there is another association with Banarasi sarees that we often overlook — the Artisans. They weave these beauties in sturdy strengths and make the wearer look classy. JDS Banaras has their own team of more than 1000 artisans whom we have taken aboard even when the times were against the heritage weaves and truth be told, this little piece he is a token of respect towards them. We admire them and how banarasi sarees are a tale of emotions for the artisans.
Banarasi Sarees – Artisans and not Weavers
The Banarasi sarees are a wonderful emotion. Woven through centuries with traditional handwoven techniques and later the French pit loom techniques, these have a name for their authentic cultural look of their own. These sarees have been woven with much hard work and employing design sense. In the traditional days when the pit looms had not made an advent on the Indian soil, the weavers would draw intricate patterns on the papers and then meticulously match the designs onto the fabric. They would dye the silken threads using quality and natural dyes and then put them out to dry. Thereafter, they would plan the combinations. They had a four-poster frame which would look like a small charpoy and would be their weaving tool. The weaving was tricky because, in those golden olden times, banarasi sarees were within the range of affordability for the royals and courtiers or elites. They would prefer original metal threads, weaving which with soft silken threads into very classic patterns was no cakewalk.
Times changed and it became easier for them. The artisans would still prepare the warp and weft yarns and ends. They would then use the pit looms that were positioned inside a room or hallway of their humble abodes and using punch cards, they would add the dyed threads. Once the saree was woven, they would remove the fabric from the loom and carefully send it for wash and the trims and finishing touches during the wash and thereafter tie tassels and trim the loose ends further after ironing the sarees.
Artisans woven Emotions in yards
For years, they would sit on their looms and through designs they would look at each pattern, sometimes adding a peacock and a paisley to the sarees of a bride. They would include colours and meenakari zari to make it glisten further. When the times were tough and even now, when the handloom is undergoing turbulent times, the artisans pour out their heart and soul into each inch of the fabric so that their generations of toil and practice does not loose the grip before the mass producing machines.
The handloom sarees, especially since JDS Banaras actively participates in the design and silk authenticity processes, are hand designed and hand crafted, hence each saree is expensive not because the middlemen would charge, but because the artisans would pour their hearts and sweat on these sarees even after the dusk sets in and their dimly lit rooms would have a flickering bulb or now the LED lights.
Shop from Artisans – JDS Banaras
A touch of an original authentic silk saree would tell you of the softness of the fabric, broken only by the metallic golden and silver threads. These artisans are better than most designers when it comes to knowing the combination of patterns and colours. They know their craft and thus, when we talk designs with them, we see them actively participate in the entire process. Thus when you walk into our Rathyatra store, or you shop from Sacred Weaves online, what you see has only quality and sale to our credit. For the rest, these artisans who empower JDS and make us claim our place of pride, they ought to be thanked for each glossy part of the fabric that adds allure to your appearance on your special occasions.
Final Address:
When the times were tough, we became their patrons, but we never shy from admitting that if we are known for being the most trusted name in the world of Banarasi silk sarees, then it is purely the merit of our artisans whom we have employed for decades. They make JDS Banaras look like the curated and best banarasi saree store that we have been over the years. For JDS, they are as much a part of our family as they are important for our business. Today, through this small piece, we are trying to show our gratitude for their work and dedication and perseverance.
Sacred Weaves:
The artisans who weave for JDS Banaras, empower Sacred Weaves as well. Blending modern demands with new age colour choices and while sticking to the age-old traiditions, finding innovative styles, these artisans have been the backbone. When you visit sacredweaves.com and see a bright red saree in sheer organza, it is our artisans who could blend the modern with a luxurious colour of joys and celebrations. Sacred Weaves celebrates each saree in their catalogue only because these laborious artisans wove their emotions into it.