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Arani Sarees

Rough Sketch of a Possible Arani Saree
Possible Arani Saree #RoughSketch
Arni or Arani sarees are made at Arni in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai District. Although they may be without zari, if zari is used, it is generally silver zari that’s been dipped in gold.

Traditionally, Arani sarees were made of silk and cotton although by the 1920s, they began to be made of pure silk. There are three main types of Arani sarees: (1) Korvai sarees which have a zari-filled end pieces and double borders, (2) Tobi sarees which have a plain body and, possibly, a little zari in the end-piece, and (3) jacquard Arni sarees which are likely to have rather a lot of zari.

The borders – often bold temple borders – of Arani sarees are generally in colours which contrast with the main body of the saree, and the end-pieces of these sarees tend to be rather intricate. The sarees are also often woven in a manner that makes them reversible.