Archive for January, 2009
January 28th, 2009 -- Posted in Indian Jewellery |
Indian Bridal Wear is elegant, rich and beautiful. Read on to find out more about Indian Bridal Wear…
A thin aerial veil is drawn o’er beauty’s face, seeming to hide, more sweetly shows the blushing bride. ~ Richard Crashaw
A traditional Indian wedding is a vibrant and elaborate affair with the blushing bride being the cynosure of the ceremony. The Indian bride has a variety of Indian bridal wear options to shimmer, sparkle and glow as she drapes herself in the choicest of embroidered fabrics and elegant jewels. Although conventionally Indian wear is synonymous with the Sari, the Ghagra Choli, Lehenga and the Salwar Kameez, most of the people outside India do not know of the humungous choices available in each category. India being a country with diverse religions and cultures, every religion, culture or region boasts of a unique wedding style replete with their regional specialties and diverse rituals.
Traditional Indian Bridal Wear
Since India is home to a large number of cultures and religions, it might be impossible to list down the bridal wear variations in every religion and the following sub-sections. Here are some of the popular Indian bridal wear styles existing in prominent sections and cultures of the rich Indian heritage:
The Punjabi Bride: The traditional bride in Punjab can wear either a sari or a Lehenga. The colors that are generally worn are vibrant colors like red, orange or magenta. The sari or the lehenga is heavily embroidered with phulkari work which involves use of darn stitch on the wrong side of a coarse cotton cloth with colored silken threads. Although many interesting patterns of phulkari work can be seen, traditionally motifs of wheat and barely stalks with ears were seen commonly. Usually, the bride wears gold jewelry. Another characteristic feature of traditional Punjabibridal attire is the chuda that is a set of red and cream ivory bangles.
The Maharashtrian Bride : Owing to the fact that the green color is considered as auspicious and also a sign of prosperity in the state of Maharashtra, the bride is usually draped in a green sari with traditional zari embroidery which involves fine gold or silver threads woven into fabrics. The Paithani is perhaps the most popular sari in Maharashtra named after the Paithan region in the state where these saris are woven by hand. Made with the finest silk, the paithani, is characterised by borders of an oblique square design, and a pallu with a peacock design. Also famous is the Nauvari sari which is a sari that is nine-yards in length. Although the Nauvari style originated in the era of the Maratha empire, where women ventured into the battlefields in crucial times of war, the Nauvari sari is a popular form of trousseau in Maharashtra till date. Usually the jewelry includes gold ornaments with pearls. The bride also wears the famous nath which is a pearl crusted nose ring.
The Bengali Bride: The traditional Bengali bride is draped in a Benarasi sari with a wide zari border and a red cheli or veil on her head. The bride wear an attractive headgear called sholar mukut which is a crown carved out of bark of a tree. The bride’s forehead is adorned with interesting motifs made with sandalwood paste. The bride wears traditional heavy gold jewellery and her head is covered with a dupatta. Traditionally, the bride wears three types of bangles namely shankha (conch shell bangle), Pala (lacquer bangle), and loha (iron bangle).
The Muslim Bride: The Muslim brides are always dressed in cherry red bridal robes. The Lehenga or the Salwar Kameez is heavily embroidered usually with golden work. Silk is generally the fabric of choice in traditional Muslim bridal attire. The bride’s head is always covered with a Ghungat that covers not just the head but also the shoulders, back and comes down almost to the waistline
The Catholic Bride:The Indian catholic bride is no different than catholic brides across the globe. White is the color of choice since it symbolizes purity. The traditional catholic bride wears a traditional bridal gown with a delicate veil.
The Tamilian Bride: In Tamilnadu the bride is draped in a red or maroon sari. The Kanjeevaram sari is a very popular type of sari that is created in a small town of Kanchi in Tamilnadu. The traditional bride in Tamil Nadu adorns her hair with fresh orange and white flowers. In addition to the other common jewelry, the bride traditionally wears traditional jewelry like Raakudi which is worn in the hair and the Oddiannam which is a type of ornamental belt.
Contemporary Indian Bridal Wear
Although traditional bridal attire continues to be popular with Indian brides, many of the brides are always keen on trying out more contemporary or even designer bridal wear for their wedding day. The traditional Kanjeevaram sari , Painthani sari do exist, but they have been upgraded with more contemporary designs and motifs. Traditional saris are now made available with more options in terms of the colors as well as the embroidery patterns. Geometrical patterns, abstracts are finding a place in Indian bridal wear as well. The traditional ghagra choli is also now available with more modern patterns and cuts. The traditional Indian bridal wear has now evolved to encompass the more contemporary fashion trends across the globe.
Contemporary Bridal Sari: The contemporary bridal saris that are available today, retain the elegance of the traditional look and yet manage to add a streak of modern fashion trends with interesting variations. The traditional blouse worn with the sari had traveled beyond the puffed sleeves to include interesting noodle straps, fashionable necklines, and heavy embroidery. The Indian brides have also come up with more modern draping patterns for the sari. The Indian bride is now experimenting with more contemporary colors that were once perceived as rather unconventional. Blushing pinks, marine colors, cool pastel shades, earth colors are now becoming a part of the bridal trousseau.
Contemporary Lehengas and Ghagra Choli: Just like the sari the Lehenga has evolved in this era of fashion and style. The regular lehenga or the ghagra which was like a flared long skirt, is now being experimented with. The Indian bridal wear options now include pleated, embroidered and even fish cut lehengas . The Dupatta or the chunari which is an integral part of the Indian bridal wear is now available in more fabrics and more contemporary embroideries, dyes, and even handwork. The choli as mentioned earlier has gone uber cool with sleeve-less, strapless, narrow-strapped, or noodle strap varieties.
What’s Hot in Contemporary Indian Bridal Wear
Colors: Although the Indian bridal wear has traditionally been limited to a few colors the Indian brides are increasingly experimenting with more unconventional colors. For those who prefer the traditional colors, there is an option to have an ensemble that blends a traditional color with another to create a balanced look. Rust color, metallic shades with golden or silver tints can make a trousseau look elegant and rich. The more unconventional colors are also in vogue. Earth colors, pastel shades, or the more unconventional lavender, pinks and blues are also in fashion. The key is to maintain the traditional elegance with a streak of modern flamboyance.
Fabrics: Although the traditional silk still remains to be the fabric of choice for most Indian bridal wear, there is now a wide variety of silks like metallic silk and crepe silk. If you are ready to look beyond the silk, you can pick from a wide variety of contemporary fabrics ranging from the crepe, georgette, or even the exquisite jute varieties. Picking out the fabric largely depends on the style of your wedding ensemble and your personal preference.
Embroidery: The traditional embroidery for Indian bridal wear off course retains the old-world charm but the contemporary embroidery patterns offer to add a modern streak to bridal wear. Modern embroidery patterns range from geometrical shapes, asymmetrical patterns to abstracts. Although many would find it absurd to sport a trousseau that has abstract embroidery over it, you can use these patterns wisely to incorporate them in your traditional look. Expensive crystals, precious and semi precious stones and beads are increasingly used in the Indian bridal wear as well.
Accessories: The Contemporary Indian bridal wear is chic and smart replete with all the right fashion accessories. The traditional heavy golden jewelry is replaced with more elegant gold designs. Diamonds, rubies and other precious stones encrusted in white gold or platinum have become increasingly popular with the brides. The Indian bridal wear is now complemented with interesting fashion accessories be it the jewelry, the sequined clutch bags or even elegant tiaras. The sandals not only match the trousseau in terms of color but also come with fine embroidery and gems. An elegant broach with diamonds, gems or precious stones is another hot bridal accessory.
The traditional Indian bridal wear symbolized the rich ancient culture, but the contemporary Indian bridal wear brings a subtle blend of the new and the old as the Indian bride awaits at the doorsteps of womanhood with elegance, confidence, and mesmerizing beauty.
By Uttara Manohar
Published: 1/9/2008
Mail this post
Technorati Tags: indian bridal jewelry, Indian bridal wear, indian jewellery
January 22nd, 2009 -- Posted in Indian Jewellery |
Tips for buying exclusive Turquiose Indian jewelry
Buying jewelry is something that is liked very much by women all over the world. However, there are quite a few points that have to be remembered while purchasing jewelry. Jewelry is usually made from materials like gold, silver, platinum, glass, and precious gems like pearl, diamond, etc. Again, jewelry is either standard design or custom-made exclusive jewelry. Further, there are various types of ornaments like earrings, nose rings, neckwear, bangles, bracelets, anklewear, rings, etc. Since jewelry is a statement by a woman, it is always better to opt for exclusive jewelry.
Exclusive jewelry should be selected in such a manner that it accentuates the dress and the personality of the woman. The exclusive jewelry should be highly feminine and at the same time be bold, exotic, mysterious, and individualistic. Exclusive jewelry should possess excellent craftsmanship and should also be affordable. Moreover, exclusive jewelry could be either contemporary or represent a period or a culture, like Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian, Belgian, Italian, Asian, Indian, etc.
Gold is the most common jewelry material. For centuries, jewelry lovers and designers had equally preferred the yellow luster and the ease of working of gold into several shapes. Pure gold is normally not used but always mixed with silver or copper to increase the strength of the exclusive jewelry and to make them more durable. Gold is measured in karat. 100% pure gold is termed as 24 carat, while 18 carat is 75% gold and 14 carat is 58% gold. Platinum exclusive jewelry is highly expensive, since it is about thirty-five times rare compared to gold. However, platinum exclusive jewelry does not tarnish or fade.
It would be better to have knowledge of the precious and semi precious gems and stones before buying exclusive jewelry. Amber is formed normally from fossilized sticky resin that comes from ancient pine trees. Emerald is obtained mineral deposits and is a green gemstone. Jade is available in two types, Jadeite and Nephrite. Jade is one the hardest of gems and could be carved into various forms and sizes. Nephrite is normally green, while Jadeite is available in red, blue, green and black. Lapis Lazuli is normally blue, but sometimes could have green or violet tints. The blueness comes from the sulphur that is present in the stone. Onyx is mostly black. Pears are either from freshwater pearl oysters or cultured. Nearly 95% of available pears are of the cultured type.
Women should also know the maintenance of exclusive jewelry to avoid it getting dirty. Generally, the oils from our skin and other beauty products like lotions that are applied on the skin tarnish exclusive jewelry. However, you could use warm water containing a little dishwashing liquid to clean most of the exclusive jewelry. Soaking for a considerable time in hot soap solution is also a good practice before cleaning with hand or using a fine brush. Finally, the exclusive jewelry should be rinsed in cold water and dried with a soft cloth. However, pearl and coral should not be soaked. Jewelry of various types should be kept in separate boxes designed specially for each item.
Richard Hedley is the author of this article on Buying exclusive Jewelry.
By Isabel Rodrigues
Published: 4/5/2007
Mail this post
Technorati Tags: turquiose indian jewelry, turquoise indian jewellery, turquoise jewellery
January 22nd, 2009 -- Posted in Indian Jewellery |
Fashion Jewellery from India Brings out the Beauty Within
From time immemorial, the fashion jewellery crafted in India has won the connoisseurs’ hearts and held a coveted place in the world market. Exquisite designs, attractive materials and skilful craftsmanship have also ushered in a new line of fashion jewellery from a high-quality supplier base. The exciting and wide-ranging collection of fashion jewellery and accessories are in great demand today and those keen to have a first-hand look-and-feel, almost always throng India Expo Centre & Mart – the largest sourcing hub of Asia.
Built on par with globally reputed trade marts of Dallas, Atlanta and Shanghai, India Expo Mart is a state-of-the-art venue featuring world-class facilities and hosting B2B trade shows all the year round. Located on the outskirts of New Delhi, the mart has become one of the most attractive sourcing destinations for big-time global buyers looking for the finest in Indian fashion jewellery and accessories. The trade fairs hosted at this venue generate new sourcing opportunities and help buyers interface with an extensive supplier base including leading manufacturers, wholesalers and exporters from all over India.
The mart had hosted the Indian Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Show (IFJAS) in January 2006, a first of its kind international exhibition which extensively promoted the industry and generated substantial business. From beautifully crafted ornaments & adornments to attractive belts & waist bands, bags & fancy shoes – the show featured a grand parade of classic and contemporary product lines made by the most skilled craftsmen of India.
More than 450 top Indian manufacturers and exporters were present at the expo, while the buyers had the unique opportunity to meet each supplier of repute and select from a wide variety of world-class products displayed under one roof. Visitors to the India Expo Mart can also explore more than 900 permanent showrooms, offering a mind-boggling variety of houseware and home dcor items, gifts, fashion jewellery, furniture, furnishings, textiles, rugs, carpets and much more.
India Expo Mart boasts an international ambience and offers a wide range of world-class facilities such as exhibition areas, a business centre, a buyers’ lounge, bank outlets, conference & banquet halls, multi-cuisine restaurants, a helipad and several other business, logistics and hospitality services – making it convenient for global traders to do business the new-millennium way. If you specialise in fashion jewellery & accessories, and want to be an exporter/supplier dealing with international buying houses, India Expo Mart is just the right place to showcase your products and carve a niche at the global marketplace.
By john grashim
Published: 11/10/2006
Mail this post
Technorati Tags: native indian jewellery
January 11th, 2009 -- Posted in Indian Jewellery |
From time immemorial, the fashion jewellery crafted in India has won the connoisseurs’ hearts and held a coveted place in the world market. Exquisite designs, attractive materials and skilful craftsmanship have also ushered in a new line of fashion jewellery from a high-quality supplier base. The exciting and wide-ranging collection of fashion jewellery and accessories are in great demand today and those keen to have a first-hand look-and-feel, almost always throng India Expo Centre & Mart – the largest sourcing hub of Asia.
Built on par with globally reputed trade marts of Dallas, Atlanta and Shanghai, India Expo Mart is a state-of-the-art venue featuring world-class facilities and hosting B2B trade shows all the year round. Located on the outskirts of New Delhi, the mart has become one of the most attractive sourcing destinations for big-time global buyers looking for the finest in Indian fashion jewellery and accessories. The trade fairs hosted at this venue generate new sourcing opportunities and help buyers interface with an extensive supplier base including leading manufacturers, wholesalers and exporters from all over India.
The mart had hosted the Indian Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Show (IFJAS) in January 2006, a first of its kind international exhibition which extensively promoted the industry and generated substantial business. From beautifully crafted ornaments & adornments to attractive belts & waist bands, bags & fancy shoes – the show featured a grand parade of classic and contemporary product lines made by the most skilled craftsmen of India. More than 450 top Indian manufacturers and exporters were present at the expo, while the buyers had the unique opportunity to meet each supplier of repute and select from a wide variety of world-class products displayed under one roof. Visitors to the India Expo Mart can also explore more than 900 permanent showrooms, offering a mind-boggling variety of houseware and home dcor items, gifts, fashion jewellery, furniture, furnishings, textiles, rugs, carpets and much more.
India Expo Mart boasts an international ambience and offers a wide range of world-class facilities such as exhibition areas, a business centre, a buyers’ lounge, bank outlets, conference & banquet halls, multi-cuisine restaurants, a helipad and several other business, logistics and hospitality services – making it convenient for global traders to do business the new-millennium way. If you specialise in fashion jewellery & accessories, and want to be an exporter/supplier dealing with international buying houses, India Expo Mart is just the right place to showcase your products and carve a niche at the global marketplace.
By john grashim
Published: 11/10/2006
Mail this post
Technorati Tags: fashion gold jewellery from india, indian fashion jewellery, indian jewellery
January 9th, 2009 -- Posted in Indian Gold Jewellery |
Indian jewellery dates back 5000 years ago with the use of natural materials found in abundance all over the country. These were in the form of seeds, feathers, leaves, berries, fruits, flowers. Even animal bones, claws, and teeth were used. Today, Indian jewellery are set with precious stones and gems alike in gold, silver, and platinum.
The jewelries although are designed in its original traditional form. Antique as it may look like, but the intricate detailing of the Indian jewellery is beauty in itself. What prompted the Hindus to take pride in this art form was the desire to adorn oneself, thereby beautifying one self. Since India is a gem-bearing country, the resources were endless. Because of this too, the country was beset by invaders from all around.
Transgressing through time and history, Indian jewellery has not remained just a craft, but evolved into an art – both in design and workmanship. For the rulers, jewels were a statement of power, prosperity and prestige. But for the Indian woman, jewellery was and is, even today in many parts considered as a security, the value of which will almost always accentuate, never depreciate.
One of the precious aspect about the Indian jewellery is the temple jewelry design. This Indian jewellery is commonly associated with dancers practicing the dance form of Bharatanatyam or Kuchipudi. This is characterized by some of the finest handwork, painfully crafted by skilled craftsmen and jewelers. From earrings to necklaces to pieces for adorning the hair, feet, hip and even the plait, the temple Indian jewellery that is custom-made, according to the measurements of the customer, is surely an enviable possession.
This Indian jewellery is made with uncut rubies (pucchakallu), emeralds, uncut diamonds (param), pearls, sapphire and other precious stones with the foundation in gold. Though due to the finesse required in crafting it, the time required to deliver the Indian jewellery may sometimes even go up to a year, depending on the number of pieces required. But one sight at the final product and most of customers will forget the agony of their wait. The price range too could be anywhere between Rs. 80,000 for a pair of jhumkas (earrings) to several lakhs for necklaces and other specialized items. A set for a dancer, meeting all her requirements for the perfect adornment could be between Rs. 8,00,000 to Rs. 15,00,000.
‘The reason for the expensive nature of temple Indian jewellery is obviously the making charge, which itself is almost one-third of the total cost,’ says Kirtilal’s manager Gunashekar.
Other Indian jewelries include the antique Indian jewellery and the Minakari jewellery. The former, antique Indian jewellery, in contrast to its name, it actually relates to the present trend and is in reality considered more of fancy jewellery. While the Minakari jewellery, or enamelling a unique combination of gems, enamel pigments, and precious stones was born as a result of Shah Jahan’s aesthetic vision that transformed enameling into a sophisticated art.
All in all, the trend set by the Hindus for over 5,000 years never ceased the interest of the people to beautify themselves.
Visit http://www.bombayfashions.com
By: Harpreet
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Author Harpreet Vohra represents Bombay Fashions, for more Visit www.bombayfashions.com
For Indian Gold Jewellery ideas click here
Mail this post
Technorati Tags: indian gold jewellery with stones, indian jewellery, indian jewelry with precious stones
Next »