Badass Ways to Keep Your Handloom Sarees Good as New - Part 2

H rust me with this pandemic mode on - nothing is in place and we have going anywhere and everywhere in this month. Since the last month I have not got much time to finish this part of my article. I have tried to get the information in place and all I was required to draft a beautiful piece. Well, my bad luck I was not able to find time.

As I was saying in my first part of this blog, we just simply love our sarees - don't we? And when we talk of handloom sarees there are so many Kancheepuram, Banarasi, Tussar, Ikat, Patola, South Indian silks, Kalamkaris, Berhampuri, Gadwal, Baluchari, Jamdani all are the crown jewels of Indian ethnic wear. But the toughest part is finding the correct ways to preserve these jewels in our wardrobe.

In my last blog I have tried to explicitly tell how to wash your handloom sarees, how to remove the stains, how to dry and iron them and how to store them for a longer time. But I have yet more to say, I have not call it any end.

After all, these sarees of handloom types and you cant simply mention anything very vain or elusive. So in today's blog we will discuss the best practices to preserve the handloom sarees as good as new and tips of preserving 3 major Indian handloom sarees.

Best Practices to Preserve a Handloom Saree As Good As New

Well, the step by step guide of my begins here. I have explicitly described some of the best practices which would be hard for all of us to ignore when it comes to handloom cottons or silks.

1. Try not to apply perfumes, deodorants or other types of sprays directly on to your handloom sarees.

2. Say a big NO to naphthalene balls and other artificial insect repellents in direct contact with your handloom sarees.

3. Avoid washing these sarees too frequently as they tend to lose their sheen from over-wash.

4. I will advice you to dry them well after every wear and wear a few more times before washing.

5. Do not do your makeup after wearing your sarees. As makeup stains are very difficult to remove

6. In case if you sweat a lot, it may leave stains in your sarees. To avoid this, always wear sweat absorbing pads under your blouses.

7. Always consult the saree seller about the best ways to care for your handloom sarees. Expert advice is never to fail.

8. If you notice a flaw/tear/loose embellishment, immediately get it fixed professionally.

Unique Silk Mark Handloom Sarees Which Can be Any Day Showstopper

How to Preserve Kanjeevaram Silk Sarees

No doubt this is one of the popular handloom silk sarees that often make you look like the queen of heaven! Kanjeevaram sarees are also known as Kanchipuram sarees as those are made in the Kanchipuram region of Tamil Nadu. It is the work of fine quality zari that makes these sarees not only popular among Indian women, but also to foreigners.

Earlier, silver and gold zari were used as this saree as a wear of the royalty. Today, the fabric zari is used to make the sarees a bit reasonable for all.

Still, the handloom weave of precision in these sarees are so intricate that the price is quite high for an original Kanjeevaram Saree.

From us to celebrities, Kanjeevaram silks are highly popular among women and these are so gorgeous that you can wear them on occasions like weddings, baby showers, etc. The fine quality silk is used in making this saree, but as zari work is combined, the Kanjeevaram saree is a bit weighty. So make sure you don't do all these:

1. DO NOT machine wash or hand wash kanjeevarams, try out a professional dry cleaner

2. DO NOT iron them

3. Keep it wrapped in muslin clothes to protect from the outside moisture if you stay in a humid climate

How to Preserve Baluchari Silk Sarees

While talking about handloom silk sarees, we can’t miss out on the Baluchari sarees of West Bengal. Baluchari Saree holds the GI mark in West Bengal and the exclusiveness you can find in this saree is not available anywhere.

A piece of Baluchari saree is mainly weaved by the weavers of the Bishnupur and Bankura Districts of West Bengal. Usually, these sarees hold a story from mythology and epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The pallus are clad with designs of animals, flowers, royal courts, etc.

Usually, a weaver takes nearly a month to weave one piece of Baluchari saree. So, paying for it is worthy to respect their dedication and hard work. condition. But make sure you do not tamper the saree, so follow these steps to keep it good as new:

1. Keep neem leaves to keep away pests from these sarees for their natural colors

2. Make sure you do not iron them and even if you do it is done at low heat

3. From time to time, change the saree folds to avoid creases that can wear and tear the fabric

How to Preserve Banarasi Silk Sarees

No matter what kind of Banarasi you wear - whether it is a Tussar, Georgette, Katan , Organza or may be a Chiffon Banarasi you cannot ignore the amazing zari work that the artisans has put in to it. And You just cant stop admiring it, right.

If you cannot stop admiring it means you would not be reckless about caring a banarasi saree - This saree requires little introduction as the wedding in India remains incomplete without a piece of zari-worked Banarasi saree. Usually, silver and gold zari is used to make the designs throughout the saree. It is a priced piece of saree that you can have in your collection. It is pricy and elegant and can make every woman look outstanding on their wedding day.

But how to take its ultimate care? Here are some pro-tips:

1. Never use dyes, bleach, harsh stain removers on delicate fabrics. Don’t let the soap stay on the garment for long. Wash it off quickly Try not to bundle up the saree while washing it because it may lead to creasing

2. Avoid wringing the saree as that can crease it

3. Avoid painted surfaces, window sills, fences or rusty clothes racks as they may stain the fabric

If you have loved the information which I have shared - try to spread it to the saree lovers community out there! Let them know how to preserve their drapes crafted with love and passion.

Author Bio

Sumana Bhattacharya completed her Masters in Economics from the University of Calcutta & was working with the Department of Education, Govt. of West Bengal to provide training to the teachers in Government Schools. She moved to USA in 2005 after getting married & is the mother of 2 kids. She is the one that drives IndyVogue every day, every hour, every minute and every second. Salute to her and her undying spirit.