Natural

Natural Saree

Ever imagined draping the elements of nature around you - like the flavours of the marigold flower or the essence of the pomegranate or feeling special in the hues of indigo or the myriad shades of lac ? Naturals or the natural dyed saree is the art of reviving the use of natural dues and these sustainable sarees form a part of an exclusive handwoven collection of eco friendly silk sarees called Naturals.

The Natural Saree brings the traditional art of using natural vegetable dyes that have been extracted from elements from nature. There are over 100 earthy shades that are devoid of any artificial flavors. In the early days, silk threads were dyed using natural ingredients until synthetic dyes came in and changed the trend. Yet these treasures from nature created some of the most deep, rich and vibrant colours that are unique and beautiful. The Natural sarees collection is an effort to be environment friendly and to ensure that these biodegradable yet natural elements are used. The Natural Saree draws its inspiration from the heritage of the past and is a tribute to nature.

The vegetable natural dyes that were used in the bygone eras have virtually disappeared along with the craftsmen and women who had the traditional knowledge. And these ingredients that are used in the Natural Saree used to have medicinal properties besides having ecological benefits and hence they are called Sustainable Saree or Eco friendly Saree. This exclusive collection was created after a detailed research which took over 14 years where traditional artisans dyed the silk sarees woven by the master weavers with the natural ingredients, like lac resim which creates the rich crimson shade also called Arrakku that is preferred for bridal sarees, especially for the  auspicious Muhurtam

The Natural Sarees are as natural as they  can get. Natural dyes are colouring agents that are obtained directly from nature around us, than be prepared chemically man made, They could be from plants and minerals mulberry leaves or marigold resin or even red soil.  And these traditional and natural elements from mother earth are blended in earthen pots and pans to extract natural colours using traditional methods. This process which involves preparing the natural ingredients has been researched in depth and take a lot of time. The powder from dried indigo leaves is left to ferment for instance in a pot for weeks. The silken yarns were then dyed in these beautiful colours but they take days, Every ingredient is boiled until the colours are emitted. The dyes are then blended and special “baths” are created to bring out even deeper , richer and nuanced hues. Finally the dye is spread evenly to create the lovely Natural sarees.

Every bit of the process was an ode to the natural tradition and heritage. The shades are all reflections of nature, without any artificial flavours. There are over 100 shades and every hue is derived from the environment around us and that is why they are sustainable and are referred to as eco-friendly sarees.

There are different natural ingredients and elements that have been derived from nature and used since time memorial. Natural dyes are as old as civilisation and colours were then created from whatever dye was available locally be it peels of pomegranate or turmeric of leaves of mulberry or lichens which created shades of reds, yellows, greens, purples or oranges.

Lac which is one of the most preferred natural dye that gives you the Arrakku shade of red also in different shades - from light orange ti dark brown. The Zari checks saree in Arakku is a crowd favourite. Indigo which is believed to be as old as the Vedas and is known as one of the oldest natural dyes was even exported at one time from India. There is something special about the deep blue tones of the indigo dyed Kanchipuram natural saree, although it takes 45 days to get the colour tones - from the time of drying the leaves to preparing blocks, powdering it and letting it ferment and then the dyeing process happens through oxidation.

Indian madder as the name suggests has been used since Indus Valley Civilisation . Manjstha as the dye is called yields shades of yellow, red and brown  and the roots and stems have  to be cleaned to remove any impurities before dyeing. Known for its anti oxidant properties, the natural saree stands out in the collection with Persian style floral motifs.

Pomegranate is another favourite which creates such beautiful shades from lilac to light yellow to even brown. The peels are dried and soaked overnight to create the beautiful lilac hues. The auspicious marigold can be golden yellow or a bright orange or even a bold green and these flowers have been harvested and dried and then boiled to create the vibrant shades.

Mulberry leaves are another source of natural dyes that create those fifty shades of green - be it the minty hues or the deep olive.

Myrobalan is another gift from nature and is extracted from the nuts of the Terminalia chebula tree , It also yields yellow tones but also helps as a mordant for other natural dyes so that the colours are durable. You cant think of a natural silk sarees without the soft delicate pink tones which is produced by sappan wood, a tree called East Indian wood found in the South and East India. The natural pink shades of the lotus pink saree with buttis comes from this natural dye.

These colours of the natural sarees not only enhance the beauty of the saree giving it a rare and elegant tint but the use of natural dyes also gives you a feeling of wrapping nature literally around you.