Date:07/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/07/stories/2009110754240200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Where there is a blend of tradition, trend

Staff Reporter

Wedding special counter at Co-optex has extensive silk sari collection

All-time popular colour combinations such as red-green, blue-pink are available

— Photo: S.Thanthoni

Soft feel: Minister for Handlooms and Textiles K.K.S.S.R.Ramachandran at the wedding silk sari special counter at the Co-optex showroom in Egmore on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: An extensive collection of silk saris with a wide range of contemporary and classical designs are on display at the wedding special counter that was inaugurated at the Co-optex’s Thillaiyadi Valliammai showroom in Egmore on Wednesday.

Minister for Handlooms and Textiles K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, who inaugurated the counter, said the saris are creations of award-winning designers attached to the Co-optex’s designer studio. They are a blend of tradition and trend, and come in various colour combinations. The saris, with their quality certified and priced nominally, would be a one-stop shop for wedding needs. A 30 per cent discount will be available on all the saris, he added.

To cash in on the wedding season, the showroom has saris in varying price ranges — from Rs.15,000 to Rs.60,000. Designers at the showroom can design custom-made saris. The all-time popular colour combinations such as red-green, blue-pink and yellow-red are available in a variety of patterns. Saris with pastel shades come with detailed zari works for a trendy look. The ‘Sarva Mangala’ silk saris and ‘Minnum Pookal’ sari are the highlights. The designs and weaving techniques in both the saris date back to the Pallava and Mughal periods.

The ‘Sarva Mangala’ sari stands unique for its classic motifs. The carvings of temple pillars of Pallava period are recreated through intricate zari works on the sari, which weighs nearly a kilogram.

True to its name, ‘Minnum Pookal’ sari has elaborate zari work on it that shimmers through large floral motifs. The Kancheepuram tissue weaving method used in this sari was a popular technique among the Mughals, said its designer R.Ravikumar.

Principal Secretary to the Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department R.Rajagopal and Co-optex Managing Director V. Chandrasekaran were present.