Sari needs no introduction across much of Asia and beyond. It is wrapped around the body over a petticoat skirt, beginning at the waist, pleated in the front, and draped over the shoulder either casually or in neat folds. It is traditionally worn with a fitted midriff-baring blouse called a choli or sari blouse.
Though primarily associated with the Indian subcontinent — including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal — sari-clad women can also be found in many Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
In India, saris are worn by women in nearly every walk of life — brides in ornate silk saris, policewomen and military personnel in uniform saris, laborers in lightweight everyday saris, tourist guides, mothers, air hostesses, actresses in flowing chiffon saris, and nuns in simple unbleached saris. Each style is worn with its own distinct elegance.
From the Indus Valley civilization to the modern day, the sari has remained remarkably unchanged compared to most garments in the world. It remains one of the strongest symbols of Indian culture and traditional women’s clothing.
Most saris share several common elements — a border running along the edges, a decorative pallu draped over the shoulder, and repeated woven motifs called buttis throughout the body of the fabric.
Saris may also feature a variety of printing techniques including Bandhani, Parsi gara, Madhubani, Bandhej, Bagru, Batik, and Dabu printing. Decorative work may include Kashmiri Aari embroidery, Zardosi, zari work, gota patti, mukaish, kamdani, pearl embellishments, and tassels attached to the pallu.
Different Kinds of Sarees
Arini Silk
Arini silk is a lightweight silk sari fabric produced in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is handwoven using pure mulberry silk.
Art Silk
Art silk sari fabric is usually made from rayon but is designed to imitate the lustrous appearance of natural silk. Compared to pure silk saris, art silk saris are generally much more affordable. Other names include artificial silk, faux silk, and banana silk.
Banarasi Brocade Sari
Banarasi brocade saris are highly ornate woven saris produced in Varanasi (Banaras), Uttar Pradesh, India. These saris are known for their raised woven brocade patterns created with silk and zari yarn, especially along the border and pallu.
Banarasi saris are especially popular as wedding saris because of their luxurious appearance and intricate craftsmanship.
Butidar Banarasi sari
A Banarasi sari with several repeated motifs names Butis – Resham Butti, Patti Butti, Jhari butti etc are the regularly used motifs.
Balarampuram Sari
Handwoven in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala State in India. It uses Pure Zari thread in the border designs.
Bandhani Sari
Bandhani saris are distinguished by tie-dye patterns and are traditionally made in the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Intricate designs are created on cotton and silk fabrics by tying sections of the fabric before dyeing them in brilliant colors. Common motifs include dots, geometric patterns, stars, waves, and stripes.
Baluchari Sari
Baluchari saris originated in the Baluchar region of Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. These saris usually feature a solid-colored body with contrasting borders and pallus.
The pallu often contains elaborate woven scenes inspired by Hindu mythology, Mughal court life, or traditional narrative artwork.
Bapta Sari
Bapta sari fabric is a blend of silk and cotton traditionally produced in Koraput, Odisha, India.
Batik Sari
Batik saris are created using a wax-resist dyeing technique in which hot wax is applied to fabric before dyeing. This traditional sari style is commonly produced in Madhya Pradesh, India.
Berhampuri Silk
Berhampuri silk saris are handwoven in Brahmapur, Odisha, India. They are known for bright body colors and decorative temple-inspired border designs.
Blockprinted Saris
Block printing on cotton fabric creates many beautiful sari styles including Ajrakh prints, tie-dye patterns, Shibori, and Sanganeri designs.
Traditionally, carved wooden blocks and natural dyes are used for the printing process.
You can read more in this post on Indian textile patterns.
Bomkai / Sonepuri Silk & Cotton Sari
Bomkai or Sonepuri saris are handwoven in Subarnapur, Odisha, India. These saris are especially admired for their intricate threadwork on the pallu.
Brocade
Traditional Indian brocade saris were originally woven in Banaras for royal families. Today, brocade saris are made using cotton and silk yarns with jacquard weaving and decorated with zari or metallic threadwork.
Chanderi Sari
Chanderi saris are lightweight fine cotton saris produced in Madhya Pradesh, India. They are famous for their sheer texture, delicate weave, and elegant appearance.
These saris often feature small buti motifs across the body and wide decorative borders measuring approximately 3 to 3.5 inches. Pastel and light shades are especially common.
Chedi Butta Sari
Chedi Butta saris feature traditional floral and leaf motifs either woven or printed onto the fabric. This sari style is associated with Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, India.
Chettinad Cotton Sari
Chettinad cotton saris are known for bold checks, dramatic color combinations, and contrasting striped borders. They originate from Tamil Nadu and are also called Kandangi saris.
Chiffon Sari
Chiffon saris are lightweight, sheer, and soft-flowing garments often available in floral prints and embroidered designs.
Silk chiffon saris are especially lustrous and delicate. Chinon chiffon, made from viscose, has a similar appearance to silk and drapes beautifully.
Marble chiffon saris have a crinkled surface texture and are sometimes referred to as faux georgette saris.
Chikan Work Sari
Chikankari work is commonly done on muslin and georgette saris. The embroidery may be simple and delicate or highly elaborate and ornate for wedding wear.
Chinnalapatti Silk Cotton Saris
Chinnalapatti sari fabric is woven using a blend of silk and cotton and often features tie-dye ikat (Pochampally-style) designs.
Crepe Silk Sari
Crepe silk saris are made from pure silk with a distinctive pebbled or crimped surface texture. These saris are highly valued for their graceful drape.
Imitation versions made from polyester fibers are also available, though they lack the luster and richness of genuine silk crepe and are often thinner and more transparent.
Dhani Kala Sari
Dhani Kala saris are traditionally white or off-white with multicolored woven or embroidered stripes throughout the fabric. They originated in West Bengal, India.
Dharmavaram Silk Sari
Dharmavaram silk saris are traditional South Indian wedding saris handwoven from tussar silk. These saris are known for their muted colors and beautiful dual-tone appearance created by weaving different colored warp and weft yarns together.
The border and pallu are usually woven in contrasting solid colors, often decorated with zari brocade motifs scattered across the body of the sari. These saris are produced in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Dupion Silk Sari
Dupion silk saris feature irregular slubs on the fabric surface along with a subtle sheen. They are often paired with embroidered borders.
Eri Silk Sari
Eri silk saris are made from silk produced by silkworms fed on castor plant leaves. The fabric is commonly produced in Assam, India.
Eri silk is usually thicker and slightly coarse with good insulating qualities. It is also known as Errandi silk or Ahimsa silk.
Ghar Charo Sari
Ghar Charo saris are traditional red wedding silk saris decorated with tiny white tie-dye dots. Some variations use white silk fabric decorated with red circular tie-dye motifs.
These saris may also feature woven or printed motifs depicting dancing human figures.
Ghicha Silk Sari
Ghicha silk saris are made using coarse but durable hand-drawn silk yarn produced from pierced, damaged, double, or cut cocoons. This yarn is often blended with pure silk or cotton fibers.
Gadwal Sari
Gadwal saris originate from Andhra Pradesh, India. These saris traditionally feature a cotton body with silk borders decorated using zari threadwork. Full silk Gadwal saris are also available.
Ikat Sari
Ikat saris are usually made from tussar silk or cotton fabrics with borders and pallus decorated using tie-dye weaving techniques.
In this process, warp and weft yarns are tie-dyed before weaving, creating patterns that appear almost identical on both sides of the fabric.
The borders may contain woven zari strips, while motifs such as flowers, leaves, fish, and parrots are commonly used. Popular color combinations include olive green, yellow, blue, and mauve.
Learn more about ikat weaving patterns here.
Jaldari Sari
Jaldari saris are very fine cotton saris, often produced in grey shades with woven gold and silver striped borders. They originate from West Bengal, India.
Jamdani Sari
Jamdani saris are lightweight woven saris traditionally produced in Bangladesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh, India. They are especially admired for their delicate weaving techniques and airy texture.
These saris are also known as Dhakai Jamdani saris.
Jute Sari
Among jute saris, jute silk saris are especially popular. These fabrics combine jute fibers with silk to create a textured yet elegant material.
Kalamkari Sari
Kalamkari saris are handwoven cotton saris decorated with elaborate printed designs, often depicting gods, goddesses, floral motifs, and traditional narrative artwork. Silk saris with Kalamkari designs are also widely available.
Kanjeevaram Pattu Saris (Kanchipuram)
Kanchipuram saris are lustrous silk saris produced in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. These saris are famous for their heavy zari work across the body, borders, and pallu.
Kanjeevaram silk saris are among the most popular and luxurious wedding saris in India.
Kanchi Cotton Saris
Kanchi cotton saris are handwoven cotton saris produced in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu.
These saris commonly feature striped patterns and small temple-inspired border designs.
You can learn more about using border prints in sewing.
Kantha Embroidered Sari
Kantha embroidery is a traditional running-stitch embroidery style popular in West Bengal and Odisha, India.
Kantha embroidery can be found on both cotton and silk saris.
Kasavu Sari
Kasavu saris are traditional off-white Kerala saris featuring distinctive golden borders.
Katan Silk
Katan silk is considered one of the softest and most luxurious varieties of Banarasi silk sari fabric.
Khadi Silk
Khadi silk sari fabric is made from handspun silk yarns and commonly combines cotton and silk fibers.
Khadi silk has a crisp appearance while remaining lightweight and soft to wear.
Kornad Sari (Koorainadu)
Kornad (Koorainadu) saris are cotton or silk saris known for their very wide borders and decorative pallus. Their most distinctive feature is the presence of multicolored check patterns.
Kora Silk Sari
Kora silk is another name for organza silk sari fabric. It is lightweight, sheer, and crisp in texture.
Kosa Silk
Kosa silk saris are made using silk produced from a particular variety of silkworm. These saris are traditionally produced in Chhattisgarh, India.
Kota Sari
Traditional Kota saris are fine lightweight cotton saris with transparent self-check weave patterns throughout the fabric.
These saris are woven in Kota, Rajasthan, as well as in Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
Kota Doria saris combine silk and cotton fibers. They are available in plain weaves, zari-bordered designs, printed styles, and versions featuring soft golden check patterns.
Lal Par Sari
Lal Par saris are traditional white saris with red borders worn by women in West Bengal, India.
Linen Sari
Linen saris are popular summer garments because of their breathable open weave and elegant appearance.
Madhubani Silk Sari
Madhubani silk saris feature traditional Madhubani paintings depicting mythology, nature, royal life, and court scenes. These designs may appear on cotton or silk sari fabrics.
Maheshwari Sari
Maheshwari saris are elegant handwoven saris produced in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, India. They may be woven from silk, cotton, or blended silk-cotton yarns.
Traditionally, cotton threads are used in the weft and silk threads in the warp. Maheshwari saris are especially recognized for their narrow zari borders and the characteristic five-striped pallu pattern consisting of three colored stripes and two white stripes.
The reversible borders allow the sari to be worn from either side. The lightweight body may also feature subtle self-check woven patterns.
Matka Silk Sari
Matka silk saris are lightweight pure silk saris with a slightly coarse texture. The distinctive rough texture of the fabric is one of their defining characteristics.
These saris are traditionally produced in West Bengal, India.
Moirang Phee Sarees
Moirang Phee sarees are pure cotton saris featuring temple borders and a distinctive woven motif known as “Moirang Pheejin.” They are traditionally produced in Manipur, India.
Mysore Silk
Mysore silk saris are luxurious pure silk saris woven with genuine gold zari. They are produced by the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation in India.
Mulmul Cotton Sarees / Muslin Saris
Mulmul is a very fine loosely woven cotton fabric known for its lightweight and airy texture, making it especially suitable for hot climates.
Embroidery and decorative trims are often added to mulmul saris to enhance their appearance.
Dhakai muslin saris from Bangladesh are among the finest examples of muslin sari weaving.
Related post: Best fabrics for hot weather.
Muga Silk Sari
Muga silk saris are naturally golden-colored silk saris traditionally produced in Assam, India.
Mundum Neriyathum
Mundum Neriyathum is a traditional women’s garment from Kerala in southern India and is considered a precursor to the modern sari.
This outfit is traditionally off-white with contrasting borders in colors such as gold, black, or red. It consists of two separate pieces — one worn as a lower garment and the other draped over the upper body.
Narayani Patt Saris
Narayani Patt saris are pure silk saris featuring borders and pallus woven in colors contrasting with the main body of the sari.
Narayanpet Saris
Narayanpet saris are traditional cotton saris made in Andhra Pradesh, India. These saris typically feature solid-colored bodies with contrasting borders decorated using zari stripes.
Net Saris
Net saris are made using sheer net fabric and are usually decorated with embroidery, trims, sequins, or ornate borders.
Pasapalli
Pasapalli saris are traditional handwoven silk saris known for their characteristic checkered and geometric woven patterns.
Party Wear Saris
Party wear saris is a general term used for saris decorated with embellishments such as resham work, gota patti, zardozi embroidery, sequins, zari work, prints, and Kantha embroidery.
These saris are commonly worn for weddings, celebrations, and formal occasions and are often made from fabrics such as satin, velvet, brocade, georgette, and chiffon.
Pat Silk
Pat silk saris are traditional white silk saris produced in Assam, India.
Patola Sari
Patola saris are brightly colored tie-dye saris traditionally produced in Gujarat, India.
Common colors include red, yellow, turquoise, black, green, and deep mauve. These saris often feature geometric patterns along with motifs such as diamonds, birds, elephants, dancing figures, and floral border designs.
Paithan Saris (Paithani)
Paithani saris are fine silk saris featuring brocade work with richly decorated golden pallus and borders.
These saris typically contain gold or silver borders and small woven motifs throughout the body. They are named after the town of Paithan in Maharashtra, India.
Traditional red Paithani silk saris are especially popular for weddings. The sari body and border are woven separately and later joined together.
Paithani saris are also known as Pitambar saris.
Pochampilli Sari
Pochampilli saris are tie-dye saris produced in Andhra Pradesh, India and are recognized for their geometric woven patterns.
Traditional Pochampilli dyeing commonly uses colors such as white, black, brown, green, and purple.
Polycotton Sari
Polycotton fabric combines the comfort of cotton with the durability of polyester and often has a silk-like sheen. Some versions imitate the textured slubs seen in wild silk fabrics.
Polycotton is commonly used as an affordable base fabric for embroidered saris.
Resham Worked Sari
Resham work refers to embroidery created using colored silk threads.
Salem Silk Sari
Salem silk saris are fine lustrous silk saris produced in Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India. These saris are admired for their decorative zari borders and satin-like finish.
Salem Venpattu silk is a traditional pure white silk sari variety.
Sambalpuri Sari
Sambalpuri saris are traditional ikat woven saris produced in Sambalpur, Odisha, India.
Sungudi Sari (Sungudi Seelai)
Sungudi saris are traditional tie-dye cotton saris produced in Tamil Nadu, India, especially around Chinnalapatti.
These saris typically feature tiny golden motifs scattered across the body along with decorative gold stripes separating the body, border, and pallu.
Common Sungudi sari colors include dark green, yellow, magenta, and red.
Tabby Silk Sari
Tabby silk saris are lightweight lustrous silk saris woven using a tabby weave structure and often decorated with printed designs.
Tant Sari
Tant saris are fine handwoven cotton saris known for wide borders and decorative pallus featuring floral and nature-inspired motifs.
These saris are traditionally produced in West Bengal, India and Bangladesh and are generally considered affordable everyday wear saris.
Thirubhuvanam Sari
Thirubhuvanam saris are highly regarded silk saris with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in India.
These saris are handwoven using pure silk and genuine zari thread, and a single sari may take around 15 days to complete.
They are especially known for their elaborate wide zari borders decorated with intricate traditional motifs.
Tircha Baluchar
Tircha Baluchar saris are fine cotton saris featuring diagonal woven patterns and are traditionally produced in West Bengal, India.
Tangail Sari
Tangail saris are cotton saris from Shantipur in West Bengal, India, featuring woven embroidered motifs distributed across the body of the sari.
Temple Saree
Temple saris are richly decorated silk saris featuring extensive zari work and temple-inspired motifs. Cotton temple saris are also available.
Tanjaore Sari
Tanjaore saris are sheer brightly colored saris traditionally finished with decorative zari borders.
Tassar Silk (Tusser)
Tassar silk saris are pure silk saris with a naturally rough texture produced using silk fibers from wild silkworms.
Tissue Sari
Tissue saris are made using thin lustrous organza-like or gauze-like fabrics woven from silk or synthetic fibers.
Kota tissue saris are a particularly elegant variety. These saris are lightweight, almost sheer, crisp in texture, and have a delicate shine that helps pleats stay neatly in place.
Uppada Pattu Sari
Uppada Pattu saris are handwoven fine silk saris created using the Jamdani weaving technique with pure zari thread incorporated into the weave.
These saris are especially valued for their lightweight texture and soft feel.
Venkatagiri Sari
Venkatagiri saris are traditional cotton saris produced in Andhra Pradesh, India.
These saris are usually woven in solid colors with contrasting zari borders. Small floral and bird motifs in zari thread are often scattered across the body of the sari.
Zari Worked Sari
Zari work refers to raised woven patterns created using metallic gold or silver threads.
Many traditional wedding silk saris feature zari work. Genuine zari thread traditionally contains silver and small amounts of gold, though many modern inexpensive saris use imitation zari made from coated synthetic filament threads.
Zardozi Worked Sari
Zardozi embroidery is an ornate embellishment technique used on saris with metallic gold, silver, and bronze threads.
Decorative materials such as pearls, crystals, and beads are often incorporated alongside the embroidery work.
Related posts: Sari wash and care · How to sew a sari blouse · How to sew a sari petticoat · Indian fabric prints and patterns · Silk fabric names · Indian traditional clothing for men · Suit neck design styles
Reference: Utsavpedia – Textiles
