Patola, one of the most elaborate sarees, has its charm. Patola sarees are known for their beautiful work on threads. The sarees originated and are made in Patan, Gujarat, exclusively by a few families, so they are costly. Their geometric designs and vibrant, traditional colours are quite popular, making you the centre of attraction at any gathering party. Traditionally created by the caste of Hindu Salvi and traded by the Muslim Vohra community to South-East Asia. Vohra, Jains, and Hindus (Brahmins and Bhatia traders) wore these expensive and high-status Patola sarees for weddings and other favourable occasions. The sarees have become a symbol of status, are part of wedding brocade dresses, and are considered the best pure silk bridal wear. So let’s learn more about these sarees and explore some of the latest designs as well!

Importance of Patola Sarees:

If one could talk in weaves about a legend, the very epitome would be Patola silks. Original Patola sarees were once an exclusive heritage of royalty and aristocracy, worn exclusively on special occasions such as Vedic rituals and marriages. In several communities, Patola sarees are considered sacred. These handwoven wonders are the products of months and years of tedious work, and each piece is unique in itself as one can never reproduce it. Its immense value is attributable not only to its intricacy but also to a great deal of skill and perseverance that is required to make it.

Features of Patola Sarees:

Here are some distinctive features of Patola saris:

• “Double Ikat” Patan na Patola-saree means the same design on both sides, wearable on both sides, and even the weaver cannot identify the front or backside.
• The price of one authentic Patan Patola saree can range from Rs 1 lakh to a few lakhs. However, other Patola sarees are also available in the range of a few thousand.
• These sarees have been the colours for about 300 years. No other Indian saree can keep its colours for so long.
• These are quite popular for their vibrant colours and geometric motifs.
• Patola sarees use natural colours such as catechu, cochineal, indigo, turmeric, Ratna Jyoti, Katha, kesudo in the colouring process pomegranate, henna, marigold, etc.

The Fabric Used For Patola Sarees:

Patola means “Queen of Silks.” Silk, Colour & Jari is used to make a Patola. These sarees are woven from the “Patola silk.” A handful of master weavers from Surat and Patan still make the Patola silks known for their zari work. They are well known for their very delicate patterns all over the world. These sarees are handmade, and weaving is done on simple traditional handlooms. Each fabric is made up of a series of warp threads and single weft threads binding together the warp threads. Patola sarees can also be made of cotton, jute, and net.