Bridal ‘Saree’
This is most expensive & highly decorated ‘Saree’ that used traditionally in marriage ceremony. Both Hindu & Muslim community consider it a prestigious issue in a social standard & so the bridal ‘Saree’ gets high demand. This is decorated by many types of bids & jewelry materials to give brightening & gorgeous look. So the extra materials attachment makes it weighty & not comfortable while wearing. But due to social standard people never compromise to buy less expensive ‘Saree’.
Baishakhi Saree
Bangla community largely celebrates Pahela Baishakh (Bengali New Year) so new trends of wearing ‘Saree’ is quite popular. White, red, black colored Alpona (Formerly used for Floor painting) is getting attraction of Baishakhi Saree.
Party Saree
Unlike old age now many of the women in Bangladesh not wearing ‘Saree’ in their daily life. But party ‘Saree’ is commonly popular in all age level to exhibit social status & so women are trying to keep best designing Saree in their collection. On the other hand popular TV serials are influencing them to buy highly expensive ‘Saree’. So party ‘Saree’ is getting in big demand. Now there are various marketing place is driving to sell party ‘Saree’ as well as on line shops. Mirpur Benaroshi Polli is one of the biggest collection place for bridal and party ‘Saree’ in Dhaka.
Saree for common use
In addition Bengali Muslims are practicing to buy low price quality Saree to distribute among the poor people. These more printed Saree suitable for common household use. Common people wear these Saree. The color & cotton quality of these Saree is sometimes poorly made which may be faded after few washes.
Widow and old age Saree
In this subcontinent there is practice to wear white blank Saree, no design & print on it when a woman lost her husband. This practice is socially maintained in both Muslim & Hindu community for many years. So this white Saree is still has a big demand in market. But now designers are trying to give dull printed design on widow Saree to get new attraction because as fashion is changing mind in society so people are buying widow Saree in dull design.
Glorious history of Bangla Saree
Bangladesh put its traditional weaving home-industry for quality Sharee & design. The weaving tradition in Bangladesh is mostly famous for fine linen muslin. Unlike India, Bangladesh never focused on dress making or stitching rather its interest remains on weaving only. So Saree, Lungi (Men’s wear) remains without stitch & getting attraction due to its special design & quality.
Dhakai Jamdani
Though the Saree is an ancient dress in this subcontinent but Bangladesh has its own traditional reputation. Dhakai Jamdani (handmade saree) is worldwide known and most famous to all women who wear sharee. Geographical location and ecological context of Bangladesh has been favorable for the production for long staple carpus cotton. And based on that special Muslin and Jamdani saree was being produced in Bangladesh for centuries. So Jamdani could take biggest part of handloom industry. Recently Jamdani got big focus in foreign market after meeting its domestic demand. Now Jamdani industry is exporting Saree to South Africa, Europe, Middle East & North America as per Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh. But specific data was not found. The traditional art of weaving jamdani has been declared by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
There are many other types of Saree – Tanta/Tant cotton saree, Dhakai Banarasi Saree, Rajshahi silk, Tangail Tant Saree, Tassar silk Saree Manipuri Saree and Katan Saree are the most popular in Bangladesh.
Threat of extinction
Bangladesh handloom industry is suffering now big crisis because of high raw materials cost as well as illegal import of Saree from neighboring country. Most of the people that works for Saree design has little education or no education so they are not able to utilize digital graphic facilities for more exclusive design. On the other hand the loan facilities is not enough for this industry. Though the demand of Bangla Saree is remarkable but due to improper marketing policy fails to improve the life of Saree maker. Indeed this will not motivate the next generation of Saree maker & will left nothing for the industry. The result one day we may see the same tragic history of Moslin maker.
As Saree is a traditional women wear in Bangladesh & many of the hand loom industry is still surviving to keep the tradition alive as well as countries economy so this is time to organize & give them proper training. Indeed this can be good source of foreign earning because many of the countries in the world use Saree as traditional wear.
