Shalin Scarves

Scarf is a veil. It represents the continuation of an unbroken tradition of wearing unstitched lengths of fabric that was the preferred style of clothing of ancient India. A whole body of Vedic literature identifies the use of the stole as a universally worn over-garment called the uttariya—a length of fabric draping the top half of the body. Early Sanskrit literature has a wide vocabulary of terms for the veil or stole, such as avagunthana, niringi, nirangika, mukhapata, sirovas¬tra, and yavanika.

Scarves, like other graceful attire, comes alive only when it is worn. It is a rectangular cloth, 3-4 meters in length and 1.25-2 meters wide. The scarves makes an impression, not just because of the beauty of its fabric and ornamentation, but also due to the elegance of its draping. The fabric used may vary from fine voile to coarse cotton cloth, although georgette, fine silk and chiffon are also used. Of late polyester has gained popularity because of its affordability, sturdiness and easy availability.

The scarves is embellished by many techniques of ornamentation. These designs are dictated by tradition. Nevertheless, each woman vies with the other to wear a more beautiful scarves. Some of the techniques used to bring these exquisite scarves to life include bandhani, block printing, weaving and embroidery. The bandhani technique produces all sorts of stunning and colourful scarves. Numerous leheriya styles abound, some of them being pratapshahi, rajashahi, gandadar, samudralehar and bhopalshahi. Block prints also decorate the odhni—bhindi bhat, lalar, morya, karna and jaal bhat are some common patterns. A striking scarves, known as phavri or phamri, is made of fine red voile, using a modified technique of block printing called tinsel printing. Gold or silver flowers are printed all over the fabric, standing out in relief. Brides wear a phavri as part of their wedding dress.