Monday, December 3, 2007

40 lakh Silk Sari

A palanquin arrived amid much fanfare at Chennai Silks, a textile house in Tamil Nadu, to give a princely welcome for an outfit that’s fit for a queen – a sari studded with gold, diamonds, emeralds and other precious stones. The textile house has woven what it claims is the world’s costliest sari, one that costs Rs 40 lakh and weighs around eight kilogram.“The most special thing about the sari is the Ravi Varma painting which has been woven into it. All the intricate details in the painting have been replicated like the curly hair of the ladies and the jewels they are wearing,” Assistant General Manager of Chennai Silks K V Sriram said.While it has already entered the Limca Book of Records, the company says it will try to enter the Guiness Book as well.

It took 30 weavers around seven months to make the sari and its launch was also star-studded with actors Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Shobhana and Jeeva attending the event. So, was the attempt just for a record? “This sari can be worn. Normally also it can be used, so it’s not just for a record,” Sriram said.

'Chennai Silks' Director Chandran claims that they have already received enquiries regarding the sari and hopes that it will be sold soon and said it took 4,680 man hours for a team of highly-skilled weavers to complete the work, using a double warp.

He claimed it was the first silk sari manufactured using 7,440 jacquard hooks (which are instrumental in weaving a design) and 66,794 cards (which are punched to create a specific design using CAD software.) "The sari, which had entered the Limca Book of Records, will be a unique drape for a bride," he added.

No comments: