India is the storehouse of textiles, starting from Indian
silk fabric to Indian cotton. Fabric in India has a rich variety. Silk and
cotton weaving predominate the weaving traditions in India.
The three main traditional dresses of Indian women are Saree, Salwar Kameez
and Lehenga. Indian traditional dresses are generally made of fabrics like
silk, cotton and all types of man-made fabrics which are available in range
of colors, designs, thickness and styles.
The fabrics widely used in women Indian wear are as follows:
Silk
Silk as a fabric is associated with wealth and success and has a reputation
as a luxurious and sensuous fabric. Silk is one of the oldest textile fibers
known to man. Indian silk sarees, salwar kameez, lehengas are the ideal wear
for any marriage and formal occasions.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural vegetable fiber of great economic importance as a raw
material for cloth. It is used to make very fine and lightweight cotton
saris and salwar kameezs and other dresses. There are various types of
Cotton fabric such as Pure Cotton, Khadi Cotton, Mix Cotton, South Cotton,
Ahmedabad Cotton, Crush Cotton, Rajasthani Cotton etc.
Chiffon
Chiffon is a light diaphanous fabric of silk, nylon, etc. Lightweight,
sheer, transparent, made with very fine, tightly twisted yarns. The famous
product of its fabric is chiffon sari. The tightly twisted yarns could be
either in the filling or the warp or both. It is very strong, despite filmy
look.
Crepe
Crepe fabric is used in almost all garments like bridal lehengas, saris and
salwar kameez. Crepe, a thin fabric of crinkled texture, woven originally in
silk but now available in all major fibers.
Georgette
Georgette is a thin woven silk fabric often of crepe yarn and construction.
It is a sheer silk or rayon crepe of dull texture. A sheer lightweight
fabric, often made of silk or from such manufactured fibers as polyester,
with a crepe surface. End-uses include sarees, lehengas, salwar kameezs.
Brocade
Brocade was originally an elegant, heavy silk fabric with a floral or
figured pattern woven with gold or silver thread, produced in China and
Japan. Brocades are typically ornate, jacquard-woven fabrics. The pattern is
usually emphasized by contrasting surfaces and colors, and appears on the
face of the fabric, which is distinguished easily from the back.
Polyester
A synthetic and man-made fiber. Some characteristics of polyester include:
crease resistance, ability to dry quickly, shape retention in garments, high
strength, abrasion resistance and minimum care requirements.
Satin
A fabric made from yarns with low luster, such as cotton or other staple
length fibers. The fabric has a soft, smooth hand and a gentle, subtle
luster. Sateen fabrics are often used for making designer lehengas, salwar
kameezs as well as for draperies and upholstery.
Net
Net fabric is an open fabric, which is created by connecting the
intersections in a woven, knitted or crocheted construction to form a
mesh-like appearance that won't ravel.
Organza
A crisp, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric made of silk, rayon, nylon,
or polyester. In silk, the stiffness comes from the natural gum that remains
on the fibers after processing. In man-made fibers, the stiffness is
engineered.
Denim
Denim is more than a cotton fabric; the fabric is very strong and durable.
Over the years, many different denim fabric treatments have been introduced.
Today, it comes in a multitude of washes and finishes. Denim is most
commonly associated with jeans. Besides jeans, young girls also prefer to
wear denim skirts.