Prints on textiles are a labor of love! Each exquisitely carved hand block leaving its imprint on crepe, Kota, or a chiffon saree makes your Indian clothing collection worthwhile. Indian printing on sarees has evolved over the years and brought a beautiful flavor of design to them. Today, there is galore of styles in printing which has added a new dimension to the Indian textiles making the designs more beautiful than ever. Pure Elegance is proud to present this exquisite art of Indian prints on sarees online and in our store in USA. Buy your favorite printed saree online from Pure-Elegance and experience the ultimate class! Browse our extensive collection online for your favorite saree. You do not have to go as far as India to get your saree! Shop online at Pure-Elegance and get your favorite drape in USA now.

UNDYING CHARM OF INDIAN PRINTED SAREES

Printed sarees have been there as long as we remember the word SAREE. It is a splendid display of art in various forms and styles which make printed saris so loved by Indian women. From simple to decorative styles, printed sarees are no more confined to simple casual wear but have paved a way to more elaborate formal looks. Indian master couturier Sabyasachi Mukherjee has made printed sarees a choice for formal occasions like weddings and festivals with this exquisite craft and design on magnificent prints, which is today a saree fashion trend!

21 ARTISTIC INDIAN PRINTS AND PAINTINGS

Indian printing is a vast subject which has evolved and is still evolving to bring out some really spectacular designs on textiles. Some done by hand, some with carved blocks and some with machines; the myriad of techniques and styles is beyond astounding! Indian artisans bring out the printing art at its best with their skillful hands spelling magic on fabrics. The prints are not just a part of clothing but are also popularly used in home furnishing and upholstery. The roots of some ancient paintings lie in small villages of India, where still these arts are practiced but have lost their importance in the modern world. Few Indian designers are working to bring these lost arts to the forefront with their designs and work. Let us look into different old and new types of Indian prints and paints which have inspired designs on sarees and textiles!

1. KALAMKARI PRINT: One of the first names which strike our minds when talking of a traditional Indian printed saree is a Kalamkari print saree. The art is as beautiful as the name itself, bringing a colorful canvas of hand painting as well as block printing on textiles. Kalamkari prints are artsy and bring ethnic vibes whether it is on a saree or home furnishing. The name has Persian roots, derived from ‘qalam’ means pen and ‘qari’ means craftsmanship. The whole process of printing involves a total of seventeen steps and is done using natural or vegetable dyes only. There are two main forms of Kalamkari art in India– Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam. The Srikalahasti style involves a pen used to paint with free hands on textiles and it is a total hand work. The designs are inspired from temples, deities, and scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Machilipatnam style is practiced in Pedana located near Machilipatnam in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh and the art evolved with the support of Golconda and Mughal rulers. The Kalamkari prints on saree are usually done on handloom textiles including cotton and silk using a bamboo pen or stick or a date palm stick.

Pink Kalamkari Saree

2. AJRAKH PRINT: The Ajrakh printing originated in the Sindh, Kutch area of Gujarat and Barmer region of Rajasthan. The Ajrakh print refers to a form of block printing on shawls and tiles. The designs are exquisite and intricate patterns created with block print stamps. The most popularly used colors are blue, red, green, yellow and black. Ajrakh printing involves only vegetable or natural dyes and mineral dyes. Indigo is the main dye used in the printing process. Ajrakh print sarees are a popular choice with the saree lovers due to their artistic and exquisite appeal.

Pink Bandhej Saree with Ajrakh Pallu and Blouse Piece

3. BATIK PRINT: It is a wax-resist dyeing technique. The Batik print or design is created by applying the resist in dots and line using a spouted tool called a canting or the other method is by printing the resist with a cap which is a copper stamp. The wax resists the colors or dyes and the artisans then color the fabric as required in one or many colors. The art is practiced in many other countries though the Indonesian-batik is the best-known. Batik printing is an ancient form of art with a long history in Egypt, Asia, India, Japan, and Africa. Batik print sarees and dresses are made in a variety of colors and interesting designs and the art is popularly used by designers worldwide.

Blue and Black Batik Print Sari

4. BANDHEJ PRINT: Bandhani or Bandhej print is a form of tie and dye textile which is practiced in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Singh region and Tamil Nadu where it is called Sungudi. The technique involves decorating the cloth with a beautiful design created by picking small pieces of cloth in a certain pattern or design and tying with a thread. It is then dyed in a color which leaves the point where the cloth was tied, thus creating beautiful designs like Bavan Baud, Chandrakala, Shikari to name a few. Bandhej print is used widely in sarees in Rajasthan and gotta patti embroidered Bhandani sarees are a specialty of the region.

Green Bandhej Saree with Ajrakh Pallu

5. IKAT PRINT: If there is any print that looks traditional yet contemporary it will be definitely Ikkat! It is a method of dyeing which creates intricate and exceptional design on textiles. The method uses resist dyeing of the yarns before the dyeing and weaving of the fabric. The resist in ikkat print is applied on the yarns and not on the cloth as in batik printing. Ikat designs have a characteristic blurriness and sharpness. The textile art is used and produced globally including India, South East Asia, Central Asia, Japan, Latin America and Africa. Double ikkat is a form of ikat design in which both the warp and weft yarns are tie-dyed prior to weaving into a fabric. It is more expensive and rare since it requires a high level of workmanship and skills. In India, various states have distinct ikat printing technique like Double ikkat is from Telangana, Sambhalpuri ikat is practiced in Orissa, Patola ikat is from Rajkot in Gujarat to name a few popular ones. Ikat sarees, Double ikkat sarees, Patola sarees and Sambhalpuri ikat sarees are the most famous variety of Ikkat sarees in India.

Black Ikat Saree

Blue Double Ikkat Saree

6. BAGRU PRINT: Bagru printing is a traditional form of printing from the state of Rajasthan. The process starts with preparation of raw cloth and ends with printing on the finished fabrics. The designs or motifs have a special pattern and are transferred onto a light color cloth or background with a block or stamp using either direct or resist style. The dyes used are natural plant dyes. Chippas prepare the cloth by removing the impurities for the better penetration of color. They prepare a mixture using cow-dung, sesame oil, soda ash which requires two days for preparation and then it is used to wash the cloth. Next step is Harda treatment, Harda is a seed integral to the dyeing process in Bagru printing. The seed is powdered and then mixed with water; the fabric is then washed in this mixture which gives it a characteristic yellow or light color background which is peculiar to Bagru. This art is losing its value with globalization but artisans in remote areas of the country are still working to revive and keep it alive. Few Indian handloom apparel brands are still marketing and selling Bagru print sarees and suits to bring the art to the forefront.

7. DABU PRINT: Closely related to Bagru printing, Dabu print is a unique form of printing art practiced in Rajasthan which employs mud-resist hand block printing method. The process uses natural dyes only. The design is first sketched onto a cloth or fabric; it is then concealed with clay and finally, the saw dust is sprinkled over it. As the clay dries up, the saw dust sticks to the cloth. The fabric is dyed in colors and wherever sawdust and clay are present on the cloth, it does not catch the dye colors. After the whole process of dyeing, the clay and saw dust is removed by washing. The beautiful Dabu print fabrics are used in making of sarees, suits, skirts, dupattas and other Indian ethnic dresses.

8. SANGANERI PRINT: From the name itself, one can make out the printing is from the Sanganer region of Rajasthan. It is a hand block printing method which is almost five centuries old and is a prominent form of printing art in India. The Sanganeri motifs are delicate and intricate floral designs which are a mix of flowers, flower buds, various forms of leaves like mango or beetel. The printing is done usually on a green or blue or yellow background. Sanganeri printing is also known for small and delicate flower designs and patterns called buta-buties which are printed on fine cotton as well as silk. Sanganeri printing is widely used in home furnishings like bed sheets, pillow covers, cushion covers, and quilts. The printing is also seen on Indian ethnic outfits like suits and sarees.

9. BAGH PRINT: This technique of hand block printing comes from Bagh, a village in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of Bagh river and is done using natural dyes only. Bagh printing employs vegetable dyes in red and black color on white background mostly to produce beautiful floral and geometric designs. The printing is done usually on cotton and silk fabrics which are treated with a mixture of corroded iron fillings, Alizarin and alum. The final printed fabric is washed repeatedly in the flowing river and is sun-dried for a certain period of time to get a beautiful luster. Bagh prints are protected under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act (GI Act) 1999 of the Govt. of India.

10. GAMTHI PRINT: The style of Gamthi printing is as old as the medieval age. It is another form of hand block printing from the villages of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Earlier, the Gamthi block printing was used to design dupattas and turbans and the motifs are printed in a repetitive pattern on the fabric. The designs in Gamthi print are inspired by nature and comprise intricate designs in bold colors. Colors used are natural or of plant origin like turmeric is used to create yellow color and black color comes from rusted iron. Carved blocks are used to do printing on the fabric. The Gamthi printing can be seen on Indian ethnic outfits like sarees, suits, ethnic dresses, skirts and dupattas.

11. FOIL STAMP PRINT: Foil stamp printing involves heat, pressure, foil film and metal dies. A wide of variety of foils in metallic colors are used to do foil stamping in silver, gold, copper or holographic colors. During the earlier days, the process was accomplished using engraved dies or hand-set lettering. Earlier, foil stamping was only confined to the books and their covers due to the extensive labor required. Modern hot foil stamping has made the process easier. Today, foil stamping is not just confined to book covers but can be seen on a variety of fabrics in beautiful designs used to make sarees, suits and other Indian attires.

12. SCREEN PRINT: This method of printing involves the use of a mesh in a particular design to transfer the color or dye on to a fabric or background. The impermeable area prevents the color penetration in the background and the permeable area creates the desired design. The method was called screen printing or silk screen printing traditionally as silk was used as a mesh instead of a polyester mesh. Screen printing is versatile and used to prints wood, ceramic, paper, plastic, metal, and textiles. The method is widely employed in various industries including clothing, textiles, balloons, medical devices and many more. Screen printed sarees are really popular and come in beautiful and intricate designs.

13. HAND PAINTING: The process of hand painting is been practiced since ages. In Kalamkari and other forms of traditional printing, artisans use a brush or bamboo stick or a cotton cloth dipped in natural colors to create drawings or designs with free hands. There is a personal touch in the painting since all the work is done with human hands making them absolutely special. A variety of wall-paintings and textiles are painted with hands in bold colors and designs which is a characteristic of this style.

Red Hand Paint Saree

14. DIGITAL PRINT: It is a relatively modern technique of printing the textiles or fabrics. The method involves the use of ink jet technique to transfer the colors onto a fabric. Digital printing is used to print sarees, t-shirts, dresses and product banners. With digital printing it is possible to print photographs on fabrics; it creates a digital effect on the fabric making it more contemporary. The designs can be created in multiple colors in a variety of designs. It is relatively faster than traditional printing methods with a high level of precision.

White Digital Print Saree

15. WARLI PAINTING: Warli paintings are practiced by the Warli or Varli tribes living in coastal and mountain regions of Maharashtra-Gujarat and nearby areas. Warli paintings can be dated back to 2500 or 3000 BC. The beautiful and extremely intricate designs are created on mud walls which look nothing less than a masterpiece. The paintings on the walls of huts give a decorative appeal to the huts and have an earthy vibe to them. The basic design involves using circles, triangles, and squares. The designs in Warli painting depict the scenes of fishing, hunting, farming, trees, animals, festival, and dance. The human and animal figures are depicted using two triangles joining at the tip and the painting is done only in white color. The color used is a mixture of rice paste with water and gum which is used for the binding purpose. Warli paint tool is a bamboo stick which is chewed at one end to create the brush effect. The art is an inspiration to beautiful designs on sarees made in basic and vibrant colors.

Grey and Pink Warli Inspired Saree

16. MADHUBANI PAINTING: It originated in the Maithili region of Bihar in India. The painting was created by village women on the plastered mud walls of their homes and with time it became a symbol of festivities and special occasions. Madhubani designs are a magnificent display of art inspired from nature and mythology. The paintings use colors which are of plant or natural origin. Also called as Maithili painting, the designs include Hindu deities like Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga. The empty areas are often decorated with floral designs, animal and bird prints. The paintings are made using cotton wrapped over a bamboo stick in Bihar. Madhubani designs are also used in textiles and various Indian ethnic outfits especially sarees.

White Madhubani Inspired Saree

17. TANJORE PAINTING: It belongs to South India and is also called Thanjavur painting. A classical style of painting which is famous across the country for its extremely fine craftsmanship! The paintings derive their inspiration from 1600 AD, a time when Nayakus from Tanjore under the authority of Vijayanagara Rayas encouraged and supported the various forms of art including dance, music, literature, and paintings of Hindu subjects or disciples in the temple. The characteristic feature of the painting is a gold coating which gives a rich and luxurious feel to the painting. Tanjore paintings are an exceptional blend of vibrant colors with a touch of gold finishing. Often the designs are laid with gemstones to highlight the paintings beautifully. The paintings depict the pictures of Gods and Goddesses from Hindu mythology.

18. KALIGHAT PAINTING: The painting style originated in Bengal in the 19^th century near the Kalighat Kali temple in Kolkata. Over a period of time, Kalighat painting gained a place in Indian painting as a unique form of art. Britishers supported Kalighat art during their rule in India. The paintings depict various mythological events and Hindu gods and goddesses. Goddess Kali was considered a central character and favorite in these paintings. The style of painting was simple on a handmade or a machine-made paper and colored by hands. Later the paintings ended up in private collections and museums.

19. MANDANA PAINTING: They are one of the oldest tribal art forms in India and are practiced in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan by Meenas which is an old tribal community. Mandana paintings are created on walls, floors of the homes and are believed to drive away the evil forces. Mostly, the women in Meena community practice this art. The paintings are considered auspicious and are made on festive occasions in the community. In the painting process, the walls and floors are plastered first with clay along with a mixture of cow-dung and water. The tools used to draw paintings include brush made from date twig, cotton and a cluster of hair. The colors used are basic including white paint made from chalk and red paint made from brick. The designs are inspired from nature including birds, peacocks, animals, plants, and flowers. Even deities are important characters in these paintings.

20. PATTACHITRA PAINTING: The painting is a traditional form of scroll painting on cloth from the state of Orissa. The word Patta means cloth and Chitra means picture and the paintings mostly depict Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The colors used are of natural origin like vegetable and mineral colors. The designs are beautiful and innovative motifs and depict simple events and themes of mythology.

21. BIDRI ART: It is a legacy which is one of the most popular forms of metal work and started around two thousand years ago. It is practiced on pottery, cutlery, and handicrafts and originated somewhere in Karnataka. The items are exported abroad which is accounts for a major source of income in India. The designs on Bidri art jewelry boxes are engraved which are absolutely intricate and fine and involve a lot of skill and hard work. The boxes are made in black color alloy. Bidri art has a lot of influence on textiles and home furnishing; they often inspire the print designs on them. The Bridri jewelry is worn on various occasions to match the ethnic outfits.

STYLE PRINTED SAREES FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS

Whether it is a casual day out, a family-get-together, a festival, a wedding or a party, the styles and designs of printed saris today makes them a versatile and effortless choice for very many occasions. Take some cue to style your beautiful printed sarees with a touch of elegance!

Printed sarees for parties: Keep it classy and elegant at a cocktail party with a stunning printed georgette saree sprinkled with ticki work. Bring glam to your look with chandelier earrings and a tied up top-knot.

Peach Georgette Printed Saree with Ticki Work

For a family-get-together, a printed sari is hands down an easy to carry and effortless pick. Wear a classy black Kalamkari print saree with some silver gold plated jewelry and keep your hair open.

Black Kalamkari Sari

Printed sarees for festivals: If the season of festival and puja is upon you, then beautiful print sarees with border are an impeccable choice for the occasion. Go for a matka silk Banarasi printed sari with a gold border to make your festive look graceful and elevate it with a bindi and traditional jhumki earrings.

Matka Silk Banarasi Printed Saree

Printed saris for weddings: Brings doses of glam to your Indian style with stylish floral printed saree with embroidery. Round off your look with statement earrings and stylish designer blouse for a classy touch. Designer printed saris are sure to garner you compliments for your unique sense of style!

Blue Floral Printed Saree with Embroidery

Pure Elegance brings classic and designer printed sarees online for every occasion and time to make your Indian style one of a kind!

BUY PRINTED SAREES ONLINE IN USA

Hunting for stylish and elegant printed saris in USA! We request you to stop your search there and turn your attention to Pure Elegance. Our Indian fashion store in USA is your one-stop solution for amazing and exquisite Indian printed saris in a galore of designs. From Kalamkari printed sarees to ikkat print sarees to floral print sarees to leheriya print sarees, we have all styles of printed sarees for you to make your special occasion all the more special!

Designer printed sarees online at Pure Elegance are your choice for various occasions like weddings and parties to make you a head-turner. Come and give us a visit at our store in USA or you can browse through our stunning collection of printed sarees online to pick your favorite, we are sure to leave a smile on your face with our designs!

90J293 Mint Green Khari Print Linen Saree with Green Saree Blouse