Indian Accessories

Towards the end of every year the textile shops in India adorn a festive look because the festivals like Diwali, Id and Christmas are celebrated during that time followed by New Year and Harvest festival. You can see a sea of trendy latest arrivals in the

showrooms. Indian traditional wear SARI has a tremendous demand during this season and as usual 2007 saw the emergence of colorful saris with innovative designs and motifs.
Semi raw silk sari, a combination of cotton and synthetic material with zari embroidery work draws the attention of many women. Its price, around $13, is an added attraction.
Another latest arrival, Laser chiffon material sari, has fancy coins attached on the border. Slightly above and just like the border the sari has embroidery designs giving the sari a shining look. This type of sari with oil prints all over the body is priced at $48.
Women get thrilled at the sight of a brand new sari, a synthetic plain one having beautiful embroidery work of flowers and leaves. Laces in the shape of flowers and leather in the shape of leaves are stitched into the embroidery giving the sari a unique and enchanting look. These saris costing $70 are available in all colors.
For those who do not like to wear heavy weight silk saris, a new light weight known as Ahimsa Silk Saris have been introduced. In this sari of 80$ silk and 20$ cotton Japanese silk painting is done. So the designs will last longer even if washed with ordinary soap and water. The price starts at $48.
‘Mustrice cotton sari’, another new variety, with border half the size of it also attracts the ladies very much. The major advantage with this type is that it need not be starched and the price is also fairly low at $22.5.
A sizeable crowd is busy in buying a silk-cotton combination with starting price $37.5. The specialty of such sari is that while this is weaved, meenakari embroidery work is added to the border giving the sari a majestic look. Kalyani silk, just like real silk, but having a very low price $11 are semi-silk cotton saris and available in bright contrasting colors.
The new ‘Party Attraction’, in pleasing blue and pink combination, with sequence, kundan and mirror works is so beautiful that the women forget to take their eyes from it. The price is $62.5. ‘Shadow Shaded’ saris in pink, off-white combination, with zari patch and kundan work has a rich look, the price also a bit rich $65.
Designer saris are some of the costlier varieties. A designer sari in blue color with embroidery, georgette border attracts every body. The starting price is $141. Equally attractive is a red designer sari having kundan, beads and embroidery works in the border as well as on all over the body. The sari weighs about 2.5kg and costs $102. Imagine the works like metallic, antique, cut, sequence and stone all in one sari, An exquisite black color with all such works costs $155 and a blue sari termed as ‘Reception Special’ costs $150. The saris with a variety of embroidery works ranging from $12 to $375 are always in great demand.

As the wedding season approaches the textile shops in India compete with each other in the introduction of dazzling wedding saris. These saris are expensive coming in the traditional colors like red, orange, maroon etc with matching blouses and petticoats. These contain no synthetic materials. Here are a few latest arrivals in bridal sari collections.

This bridal wear elegant brocade sari is in beautiful and rare combination and has intricately woven borders. The full body contains designs made up of small motifs. Pallu’s unique design appears like a meenakari style woven in the background with similar borders on its two sides. Price is $ 259.00

A pure georgette bridal sari, in marvelous jacquard maroon, has golden color floral designs, bold eye catching border and a pallu having a bright floral galeecha design. The sari has a rich majestic look. Sari along with matching blouse is priced at $ 215.00.

A bride looks stunning in a very beautiful and rich looking brocade sari that has a golden color pallu having broad borders on both sides with delicate motifs all along. The delicately and intricately woven pallu is enchanting and the blue and golden color combination enhances the look of the bridal sari. The sari with fancy blouse costs $191

Fine crepe brocade sari in dark green makes a bride exquisitely beautiful. The sari has pretty designs all over the body and scalloped borders with intricate designs. Richly created pallu has huge borders with delicate designs and between the borders highly dense floral sequence are arranged. The price of this sari with matching blouse and petticoat is around $278.50.

Yet another latest release is an elegant brocade sari that has thick border on each side with intricate design all along and dots on the background having scalloped type motifs. This sari, in two rare contrasting combinations with a golden touch, has a pallu divided into three sections having bold designs in them and red tassels are attached on it. Sari with blouse is available at $250.

Again here is a superb brocade sari with a brilliant combination of copper and golden colors. The sari has on its each side well- embellished bold borders. Pallu is designed in a unique style called galeecha in which golden dots and golden motifs are arranged alternately allover. Sari together with matching blouse and petticoat costs $270.50

Simplicity is visible in this elegant wedding sari with a green, pinkish maroon and cream combination, the colors being arranged in a very rare manner. Sari has its extreme border on green base with fabulous meenakari work followed by pinkish maroon borders decorated with small motifs and the remaining part of the body is in cream color without any motifs. In the pallu also the green and pinkish maroon combination is done with exquisite motifs. Red tassels on it make it more attractive. Price of sari with blouse and petticoat is $175.
These are only a very few samples from hundreds of dazzling Indian Bridal Saris.

India has a very prominent place among the oldest and persistent countries for producing glittering jewelry around the world. Mixed with tradition and latest fashion Indian jewelry attracts the whole world with a desire of owning at least one sparkling and pricey designed jewel in the life time.

The types of Indian jewelry are plenty and you will wonder when you know that from hair to toe each part of female body can be decorated with an ornament. Each kind of jewelry has its own style and the full credit of this style goes to the various Indian tribes that designed them initially. The stones like coral, sugilite, charoite and gaspeite are mostly used in Indian jewelry. To know the historical facts of Indian jewelry is fascinating and any human being will be mesmerized to the different kinds of Indian jewelry with just a look.
Sub- continent India has a longest strongest continuous legacy of jewelry making around the world. We have confirmed evidences to show that people belonging to the Indus Valley civilization around 1,500 BC had started creating gold earrings and necklaces, bead and metallic necklaces. Another peculiar feature connected with this civilization is that these ancient people did not bury the jewelry with the dead whereas many other cultures followed that custom. Although diamonds were first mined in India, reliable evidences are there to show that they used precious gems in the jewelry even before that.
India can boast of a large variety of body jewelry, like nose rings, earrings, bracelets, crowns, rings, anklets, chokers, amulets and necklace. A craftsman or goldsmith has to follow certain rigid rules while making the jewelry such as the temperature has to be kept at low as the heat could harm the gold threading, they have to concentrate on each piece at a time etc. That is why the jewels need such a long time to get finished and the cause for the long wait. The wait is worth, at the same time very expensive too.
Ornaments made out of the yellow metal, gold, continues to be the leader in Indian jewelry. Recent years have seen silver as well as platinum emerging as strong contenders. Low- priced jewelry produced out of materials like wood, plastic, glass, aluminum etc is also gaining popularity in India. You can see a spurt in the demand for designer jewelry too. These days pastel colors are doing very well in the wedding market. Moreover, people have become experimental that has led to new designs. There is a great demand for fashion and fusion jewelry too. The rage is detachable jewelry that can be put to multiple uses. Add an element to it, it becomes an evening wear, take something out and it is ready for an official gathering.

Nose ring is a very popular piece of jewelry worn by a hole pierced in the nose. It has been originated in the countries of the Middle East several centuries back. India started the practice of wearing nose rings during the 16th century. Nose rings are mainly connected with the Hindu religion although Muslim ladies and children wear nose rings called ‘nathunis.’

Nose rings began to get popularity in India during the Mughal rule. At that time it was just like a small ornamental pattern depicting a very small flower having a slender stem inserted into the left nostril and a screw inside held it firmly. Usually gold or diamond nose rings are made in the form of a tiny ball or a small flat disc. Sometimes instead of the ball a small stone like a diamond, ruby or any other tiny gem is used. The nose rings come in various styles and colors to match with the clothes. Nose rings and pins not only add grace and charm but also accentuate the nose of the woman.
The type of nose ring is determined by the part of the nose to be worn. Stud rings are ideal to decorate the nostril. A circular barbell is very suitable for the region of septum whereas a straight barbell can decorate the bridge of the nose between the eyes. The nostril rings are sometimes heavy due to the presence of pearl and precious or semi-precious stones. Then the rings are supported by fine chains that are attached to the hair above the ear. The `Bulak` in Madhya Pradesh, is a fine example of this type of nostril ring.
Metals like stainless steel, 14/18 carat gold, nickel, titanium or niobium are normally used to make nose rings. Be careful, nickel rings might cause allergic reactions to some people in and around the area of the ring. If gems are used to decorate the rings see that they are fitted to the rings firmly.
According to the Indian traditional custom Hindu married women should wear a stud or a nose ring by piercing their nose on one or on both sides. There are also nose rings that can be clipped onto the side of the nostrils. Even magnetic jewelry is there to simulate a stud piercing.
Nose rings are available in several shapes, sizes and designs, from very small jewel studs to thick barbells and plugs. These rings started to gain popularity in America and other industrialized Western countries by the end of the 20th century, particularly in punk and youth culture. Though there is a ban for this jewelry in schools and businesses in the United States nose rings are steadily becoming more acceptable, especially in urban areas.

The people of Gujarat state in India are very much noted for their business skills. Broach, an ancient Gujarat port situated on the Cambay Gulf, was an important bisector of the business route to China, Greece,’ Portugal and Persia. Broach played a significant role in the trade and movement of Mughal jewelry, gold, silver, ivory, pearl, textiles, gemstones and coral to these foreign countries. This advantage helped Broach gradually develop as a hub for stone cutters, artisans and carvers for nearly thousand years. Even today you can see a sizeable diamond cutting factories in some Gujarati cities like Surat, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Navasari. These small scale cutting houses have around 800,000 employees to cut and polish 80—90% of world’s whole diamond production.
As a gesture of gratitude to tribal jewelry and accessories many Gujarati ladies wear key-ring holder an their waist usually made of silver. Jewelry like mangal sutra (a chain tied around the neck by the husband on the wedding day), earrings, necklace, rings and bangles are also very popular among Gujarati women.
Modern jewelry designers have revived the age-old popular tribal jewelry, known as Pachchikam, mostly crafted in Kutch and Gujarat and made this one of the latest fashion statements. The artistic tribal jewelry Pachchikam is slowly replacing gold jewelries. The craftsmen in Gujarat and Kutch prepare this form of jewelry buy cutting semi-precious stones. Some sort of glasswork also is needed in the preparation. Only the few families, who have attained specialization in this type of artwork through their ancestors, can do the fabrication of this jewelry. In the normal course each piece requires 1-2 months to prepare due to the typical climatic constraints.
Other type of traditional jewelry made in Gujarat out of agate, bead and silver are very famous as the exquisite tribal jewelry. Ornaments like ear rings, bangles, nose rings, necklaces etc. are crafted locally and sold out all over the state. Silver-bars are locally procured and later transformed into sheets and wires from which various enchanting silver ornaments are made.
Bhuj, Anjar and Mundra in Kutch district are the main hub of silver jewelry work and Porbandar, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad and Jamnagar in Gujarat also bears a long tradition of supplying excellent silversmiths, who show great skill in creating stunning silver jewelry,. As Tribal Jewelry is a part of Gujarat’s traditional jewelry this work is still done with great care and in styles centuries after centuries using beads, zari, lac etc and this age old tribal ornaments are in great demand among women.