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Where tradition lives on...
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Besides the exclusive range of silks and fabrics, the traditional decor and display make shopping at Sundari Silks a unique experience.
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LEAVING THE North Usman Road traffic behind and pausing for a moment to look at the new Sundari Silks building from the outside, one is immediately transported to an era gone by. It has the look of one of those huge traditional South Indian homes that are becoming an increasingly rare sight these days. With a row of pillars, old style windows, thinnais (benches) and little niches for diyas at the entrance, the mood is set even as one enters the new showroom. Inside one is greeted by cool green Athangudi tiles, a lovely mutram (courtyard with a covered roof) decorated with urulis filled with lotuses, icons of deities and teapoys displaying fabrics neatly folded into triangles.
Sundari Silks, promoted by K.Rajaram, an entrepreneur with 19 years of experience in the silk trade, and his wife Sundari, moved to the new building recently. A shy gentleman who prefers to maintain a low profile, Rajaram says, ``Coming from a traditional weaving family we wanted to do something to help the younger generation keep in touch with our tradition. We wanted a homely, no frills outlet where people could shop."
Unlike the shops where there are massive crowds jostling for space to get a dekko, Sundari Silks is a haven where one can take time, mull over the choices and make one's selection. Since moving to the spacious showroom (3300 sq feet each on the ground and first floors) the range has become much wider.
An eye-catching collection of silk sarees from Kanchipuram, Arni, Dharmavaram, Bangalore, Mysore and Benares besides the popular Puttapaaka, Uppada, Gadwal, Ikkat, Valkalam and printed silk sarees are on sale on the ground floor.
If you want exclusive sarees, then check out the Kanchipuram bridal collection or the stunning range of off-whites with contrasting borders (a must-see), raw silks, tussars (plain and printed), heavy silks with bavanchi borders etc. There is also a section devoted to georgettes, crepes, satins, polyesters, organzas, chanderis (in silk and cotton) kora cottons, and mill sarees. Prices range from Rs. 250 to Rs. 1,250.
For semi-formals and daily wear, one can choose from the lovely Mangalgiris, Venkatagiris, semi Gadwals, Kalamkaris , Chettinadu and Dharwar sarees. Mangalgiri, Kalamkari, Bagru and Sanganer prints are also available as yardage.
Ethnic churidhar sets (Kanchi cotton, polycot, Mangalgiri, Kalamkari, Tussar, Gurjari and Dharwar cottons, not to forget Chikan and Kantha work), shirts for men, ready-mades for children including cute pavadai chattais besides cushion covers, silk ties, an array of bedspreads and a handicrafts section that stocks items from brassware to glass and coconut shell Ganeshas and what have you, make Sundari Silks an attractive shopping destination.
Ask him about the silk industry and Rajaram says, ``This year has seen a lot of changes. There is a renaissance of sorts.''
But, what saddens him is the fact that people are going in for modern clothes. A designer by instinct Rajaram constantly innovates in terms of colour combination and design etc. ``I have seen a lot of design and colour changes in silks but not enough.
When you create something new it should be aesthetically appealing and in line with tradition so that we do not leave any thing bad for the next generation.
The whole industry is experimenting - Benares sarees and Uppadas have now got Kancheepuram designs... There are zari sarees suitable for all occasions... But thankfully sarees are still affordable.
SUDHA UMASHANKER
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