Tanchoi Saree

The weaving technique of silk Tanchoi involves a single or double warp and 2-5 colours on the weft (mostly of the same shade). This allows Tanchoi sarees to have a dual colour warp, as well as a satin finish. The addition of extra threads is also made in order to give it the appearance of being embroidered. The most popular patterns and motifs are those of flowers, birds, peacocks and parrots, woven into the fabric in small and intricate patterns.

Believed to have been brought to India by Chinese traders in the nineteenth century, Tanchoi silk was later adapted to suit the craft and creative preferences of Indian weavers. Another story talks of three Parsi brothers who were said to have travelled to China in the same time period. They were fascinated by the material and the technique and trained the weavers in Gujarat after their return to India.

However, it was Banarasi weavers who began to widely sell cheaper versions of Tanchoi sarees, and also started the novel practice of incorporating zari work into them. Over the decades, Banarasi Tanchoi sarees have gained popularity pan-India and have also evolved into different varieties. For example, the Mushabbar version is associated with the greenery of nature, due to life-like depictions of bushes and branches of trees.

This particular Tanchoi saree was purchased in 1992 in Delhi.

Contributed By :

Aaliyia Malik