Cotton sarees are very much every woman’s favorite as well as a must-have. There are some very compelling reasons to add cotton sarees in your closet. A natural fabric, cotton is breathable and less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions. Because of these qualities, cotton sarees are perfect for humid climates and people with sensitive skin. Cotton is lightweight yet easy to drape, making them an ideal choice for any occasion.
Cotton is a durable fabric and if properly maintained, the quality remains the same for a long time. Cotton sarees are also more pocket-friendly compared to other kinds of sarees. With these reasons, you are bound to fall in love with cotton sarees and you would want to know more about them. Let us get to know various kinds of cotton sarees and how to style them.
Popular Types of Cotton Sarees
Chanderi cotton sarees:
This weave comes from the town of Chanderi of Madhya Pradesh. The cotton sarees are known for its eye-catching sheerness and a glossy appearance. The motifs seen on these cotton sarees are coins, floral art, peacocks and even modern geometric designs. Because of their appearance, they are perfect for occasions such as wedding functions and intimate togetherness.
Jamdani cotton sarees:
This beautiful weave originally hails from Bangladesh. In India, it finds it home in the state of West Bengal. Some of the popular motifs are kalaka (paisley), fulwar (flower arranged in straight rows), panna hajar (thousand emeralds), butidar (small flower), and tesra (diagonal patterns). These cotton sarees are versatile enough to be worn for any occasion. But we would suggest you to don a Jamdani cotton saree on casual family meet-ups or close family gatherings.
Khadi cotton sarees:
The fabric of Khadi had been popularized by Mahatma Gandhi. It is considered one of the simplest yet graceful. Khadi was considered as a symbol of equality, rich or poor. Due to this, the saree is either plain or with minimal motifs. One of the peculiar advantages is that with every wash, the quality of the fabric is enhanced. This increases the longevity of the cotton saree. The saree can be worn for casual as well as formal events.
Kerala cotton sarees:
As the name suggests, this cotton saree comes from the southern state of Kerala. Also known as Kasavu sarees, these sarees are also popular due to their simple and graceful appearance. This cotton saree comes in a white or off-white color and a golden border as its main attraction. This saree is especially worn by women during Onam. If you love muted cotton sarees such as Khadi, then for variety, Kasavu saree should also be in your closet.
Kota Doria sarees:
This elegant and resourceful fabric comes from the city of Kota, Rajasthan. Texture wise, this cotton saree is sheer due to its fusion of cotton and silk yarn.The most popular motif is squares called ‘khat’. The other attractive designs on these cotton sarees include phool patti (flowers with petals and leaves), keri (mango), shakarpara (sweet), ginni (coin) and many other geometrical motifs. The kota doria cotton sarees are suitable for traditional, ceremonial, as well as religious occasions. Alternatively, they can be worn for important official events, festivals, parties, or even casually.
Sambalpuri sarees:
These cotton sarees come from the Sambalpur region of Odisha, India. Sambalpuri sarees are made from fabric woven on a handloom. Some of the varieties include Sonepuri, Pasapali, Bomkai, Barpali, and Bapta. These sarees are adorned with traditional motifs like shankha (conch), chakra (wheel), and phula (flower). All of these have deep symbolism with the native Odia culture. The colors red, black and white on the cotton saree represent Lord Jagannatha’s face color. These sarees can be worn in any occasion, casual or festive.
Ilkal cotton sarees:
This saree is woven at Ilkal that is a medium-sized town 60 km away from Bagalkot district in Karnataka. This saree is either made of a mixture of cotton and silk or in pure silk. The Kasuti embroidery is used on Ilkal cotton sarees. This embroidery is used to weave traditional patterns like elephants, palanquins, and lotuses on the cotton saree. This saree can be worn on traditional or religious occasions due to its vivid patterns.
Taant cotton sarees:
This is another exquisitely beautiful saree from the Indian state of West bengal. The Taant cotton sarees has several interesting traditional motifs such as tabij (amulet), bhomra (bumble bee), ardha-chandra (half-moon), rajmahal (royal palace), ansh (fish scale), and chandmala (garland of moons). You can wear a Taant cotton saree on festive occasions such as wedding or religious ceremonies and cultural festivals.
Kalamkari cotton sarees:
This type of cotton saree comes from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Kalamkari is a traditional Indian art form that comprises hand-painting or block-printing floral or divine motifs on fabric. The Kalamkari cotton saree is adorned with these lovely motifs. Nowadays, In recent times, motifs such as small animals, musical instruments are also woven into the fabric. This cotton saree could be worn at office events, parties, get-togethers or traditional festive occasions.
Maheshwari sarees:
Produced in the Maheshwar town of Madhya Pradesh, these cotton sarees are decorated with striking motifs. Some of the signature ones are leheriya (wave), heera (diamond), chatai (matting), eent (brick), Rui phool (Cotton flower), Diya (lamp), V design (arrow head) and Tara (star). A Maheshwari cotton saree can be worn on auspicious occasions such as ceremonies or festivals. It can also be perfect for office get-togethers or family parties.
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Styling Cotton Sarees Effortlessly
One of the primary ways to spruce up is to play with the blouse design. In case of heavily embroidered or printed cotton saree, you can stick to a contrast or matching solid colored blouse. If you want to kick it up a notch, you can choose a print-on-print look. You need to make sure that the blouse and saree prints are not too different that they clash with each other.
In terms of accessories, you can wear jewelry such as jhumkas, necklaces, heavy kadas or bangles. In case of cotton saree in colors of red, orange, yellow, you can opt for gold jewelry. For colors such as blue, green or purple you can opt for silver or oxidised silver jewelry.
Other options in jewelry would be bead, meenakari, polki or jadau. In meenakari and beaded jewelry, you can match the pieces with saree colors. Polki and jadau jewelry would be perfect for a grand occasion. If you want to easily carry the cotton sare for long hours, you can also opt for a kamambandh or kamarpatta. Choose a plain or a heavily decorated one, depending on the saree and occasion.
If you are bored with the same pallu style, you can go for other draping styles such as Bengali, Gujarati, or seedha. Makeup and hairstyle could be kept simple to let the saree make a statement. Tie the look together with flats, jutties or strappy sandals or heels.