Kasavu sarees, also popularly known as Kerala sarees, are one of the most auspicious drapes of the state. It is also the traditional wear of the state. The saree represents Kerala's rich culture and heritage in its minimalist and organic colours of white and golden. It is the customary drape worn during the ten-day festival of Kerala, Onam.
Kasavu sarees are adorned by the Malayali community for all their special occasions, from weddings to temples to funerals. The saree holds auspicious importance like no other. Just the women drape the kasavu sarees, the men of the community drape Kasavu mundu. Both the pieces are derived from the exact origin and hold equal importance in Kerala’s culture and heritage.
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Kasavu sarees are typically white or cream plain cotton materials with intricate golden borders. The material which is used in the manufacturing of the golden border is called kasavu. In simpler terms, kasavu refers to the golden zari used in the border of the Kerala saree. This is why when the same material is used to manufacture a mundu (dhoti) for the men, it is called the kasavu mundu.
The kasavu sarees have a number of implications owing to their white and golden colour scheme. The entire saree is mostly in shades of plain white or cream. The white colour signifies peace and nature’s undisturbed beauty. At the same time, the golden zari border implies the sun’s rays and that of Kerala’s beautiful landscapes. The white and golden combination honours Kerala’s natural beauty and landscapes and promotes peace and harmony.
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Looking back on the pages of Kerala’s history, it was denoted that both men and women in the state were not allowed to cover their upper bodies. So naturally, there was no concept of sarees in the pre-colonised Kerala, both men and women used to cover their lower bodies with Kasavu mundus and leave their upper bodies bare. However, after colonisation, women started to wear angavastra to cover their upper bodies.
This advent of angavastra, which was like a shawl, popularised the concept of two-piece, settu-mundu. Settu was like a half saree, which was draped to cover the upper half of the body. Much later, the single-piece saree as a garment was introduced to the residents of Kerala, along with the concept of a blouse. The first ever stitched piece of garment that the females of Kerala wore was a blouse.
The kasavu sarees represent the rich culture and heritage of Kerala. It is one such garment representing Kerala's state and wealth and prosperity. The kasavu, which is the golden zari on the border, was earlier made of pure gold to represent Kerala’s wealth and prosperity. The pure gold kasavu signified the purity and luxury of Keralites. However, as the prices of gold sky rocked, the kasavu was substituted with a mixture of gold and copper-coated silver. This made the kasavu sarees more cost-effective, yet the beauty and cultural significance of the garment remained intact.
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A normal minimalist kasavu saree with a plain golden border can be made within three to five days. But it may also take longer, depending on the craftsmanship required on the piece. If the saree needs to have an intricate motif work or needs some heavy embellishments done, it may take a month or longer to complete making a kasavu saree. One notable thing about kasavu sarees is that all their work is done by hand wefting, making it all the more special.
Kasavu sarees are available in a wide variety of price ranges depending on the work done on them. The base price of a simple kasavu saree starts from INR 3,000. If the saree has intricate gold work done on it along with motifs, its price may even go up to lakhs. The amount of gold used in the saree and the craftsmanship involved decide the prices of any kasavu saree.
We sure are in love with the kasavu sarees. Let us know your views on them.
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