The Shantipur Sari

• Shantipur saris are known for having elaborate designs, extra warp in the borders of the cloth and a cotton base. They come in a variety of different designs, colors and types and are named accordingly: Nilambari, Bankipur and Bhomra, among others.
  
  

Sari Production

• Cotton yarn is the main raw material in producing hand loom saris. Hand loom weavers in Shantipur purchase the yarn from traders in Kolkata because cotton is not grown in the town. Handwoven saris can also be made of silk, polyester or fine wool. More than 10,000 people work in the hand loom textile trade in Shantipur.
  
  

History of Shantipur Textile Trade

• Textile production in Shantipur can be traced back to the 15th century. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Shantipur was producing saris and exporting them to Arabia, Greece, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan. By the 19th and 20th centuries, sari production became modernized with the use of Jacquard looms, simplifying the process of making complex patterns. Over time, "Shantipur sari" has become a brand name in India.
  
  

The Modern Sari

• Nowadays, handwoven saris are quite expensive and are usually worn only at weddings and special social occasions. Cheaper mass-produced saris are made of artificial fibers and have basic designs.