Kanjeevaram Silk Sarees

The Kanjeevaram saree, woven in and around Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, is among the most recognised of India's silk weaving traditions and the standard bridal saree across South India. Ashelby International supplies Kanjeevaram sarees for bridal, festival and luxury retail programmes.

Our Kanjeevaram sarees are woven in mulberry silk at 120 to 250 GSM, with pure gold or silver zari, in temple, check and floral motifs. The defining construction feature is that body and border -- and often the pallu -- are woven separately and joined by interlocking the warp threads, a technique called korvai. Done properly the join is strong enough that the border will not separate even under stress, and it is what permits the sharp colour contrast between body and border that characterises the tradition.

Weight varies considerably within the 120 to 250 GSM range, driven almost entirely by zari content and border width. A heavy bridal piece with broad gold zari borders sits at the top of that range and costs accordingly; a lighter festival saree with a narrow border sits well below it. Zari quality is the principal cost variable -- pure gold or silver zari is substantially more expensive than tested or imitation zari, and this is worth specifying explicitly rather than leaving to assumption.

Kanchipuram silk holds Geographical Indication registration. Typical applications include South Indian weddings, festivals, bridal wear and traditional ceremonies. Specify zari type, weight range and motif with your enquiry.