When you think of Kanchivaram pattu, the first thing that comes to mind is the pure zari. Traditionally, it is the most favoured kind of saree, but the younger generation is opening up to trying something new. More often than not, the word ‘gaudy’ is used to refer to this kind of zari which then puts off the younger generation because they want something beautiful, but not too flashy.
And at Palam Silks, we want to cater to everyone no matter their age or the reason for wearing sarees. Of course, Palam Silks wasn’t the first to introduce the silver zari, but we were certainly the first to use only the silver zari on a pattu saree. Weavers have used silver zari in the past and even woven it together with gold zari into the sarees, but there was a very limited market for this style and trial and error could only produce so much.
But we, at Palam Silks believe in experimentation, to find the right fit and combine it with different colours and patterns to see what works best. We reintroduced checks, longer borders, peacock motifs with getti pet borders and combined it with an old collection called Palam Hues - which was a selection of pattu sarees in unique colour combinations. As part of our experimentation, we used silver zari with these sarees to find the perfect combination and balance. Thus was born the Silverline Collection.
We discovered that an unusual silk saree with gold zari is considered rich and flamboyant, but the same saree with a silver zari is subtle and classy. And this worked well with our plans for the collection. A crucial step when putting together this collection was to pick and choose colours where using a gold zari might have been considered too much and replace them with the silver zari. And it worked! A big favourite has been the combination of black and silver, which definitely balances well.
More importantly, pure gold zari available in the market is simply silver zari that is gold plated. And because we are avoiding the gold plating, the cost of making the sarees is lower, which brings down the price of the saree as well.
In the past, silver zari was often ignored and not used because there were chances of the zari blackening over time, but finding the right way to keep the silver zari stay the same is what makes Silverline such a unique collection. Instead of making a large number of pieces, we’re keeping it a very limited collection because these are designer sarees.
The Palam Woman wants to fit in, but she also wants to stand out. A pattu saree with gold zari helps her fit in, but when she’s wearing a Silverline silk saree, it makes her stand out. Becoming a trendsetter is about being comfortable in what you’re wearing and wearing it confidently and that’s exactly who the Palam Woman is and what she stands for.
Visit our stores to take a look at the Silverline Collection or find the sarees online at www.palamsilk.com
For as long we can remember, everyone has enjoyed a specific kind of saree. Whether it’s for a wedding function or something slightly more casual, women have preferred sarees in shades of red and maroon. But in the last few years, brighter shades have been making appearances everywhere. Shades of green, orange and yellow; colours that stand out in a sea of reds and maroons have become quite popular. And to keep up with these changing trends, we at Palam Silks went beyond what we usually design and weave. A traditional Kanchivaram saree has one korvai border, however we chose to have a double border despite knowing that it would be difficult to weave. But we’ve never let weaving difficulties stop us from exploring new techniques.
In the past, there have been multiple difficulties with this weaving method, a problem that even master weavers have had trouble with. Often, there are weaving errors that are unavoidable, but wearers know that this is a common problem with handmade sarees.
In spite of this, we wanted to do something more than just weave our sarees with a double border; we wanted to experiment with two different styles. The turning and traditional borders are not used together in one piece, because it’s considered impossible to match a traditional korvai border with a turning border. However, our master artisan was able to find the perfect method to combine the two and soon after we introduced the Double Delight Collection.
Due to these complexities in weaving, the collection is only available in bridal silk sarees starting at INR 50,000. The grand style and the elaborate design make it the perfect wedding saree, completing everything about the perfect day for the bride. But that doesn’t mean we’re forgetting the lower price range completely - we worked on a design with lesser zari, involving the same amount of workmanship while still delivering beautiful sarees at an affordable price.
With the Double Delight Collection, it goes beyond what is expected of you and what you want to wear. With choices ranging from different colours to border styles, there’s something for every Palam Woman to choose from. “They want to look good for themselves, not just leave an impression,” says Mrs. Jeyashree Ravi, founder of Palam Silks, “The younger generation of women now want to experiment with colours and different patterns, choosing sarees based on their skin tone and what fits with the event.”
This collection is for every woman who likes celebrating her duality. The Palam Woman is a go-getter, but she’s also comfortable in her own space, doing her own thing at her pace. The Double Delight collection gives her the chance to be whoever she wants to be, depending on what the occasion calls for.
Shop for the Double Delight Collection in stores and through the website at www.palamsilk.com
Music and silk combines in our newest collection
The sarees feature musicians and their instruments, seated across the stage during a performance. While the earlier design was perfect for musicians themselves, the new collection is for everyone who loves and enjoys music.
In simple words :
For the new collection, we designed our sarees using bright colours, which is also common during Margazhi time of year.
“ The Kutchery season here in Madras, it’s an explosion of colours and sounds and for a performing artist, whether a dancer or a musician, you know just how important this time of year is, ” added Aarabi Veeraraghavan, a well-known dancer.
Also part of this collection is well-known musician, Shakthishree Gopalan who spoke about the relevance of our new collection during the Margazhi season,
“I have always loved and admired the elegance and grace embodied in a saree. And a pattu saree, needless to say, always meant that there was a special occasion and an atmosphere of celebration and festivity to look forward to.”