Maheshwari suit piece

The beautiful conception of the Maheshwari Saree dates back to 18th century Madhya Pradesh. These Sarees were first found and produced in the town of Maheshwar, hence the name. These Saree were initially made of pure Silk, but with the passage of time, Cotton was also one of the major fabrics used for these exquisitely designed saree.

The interesting legend behind these suit is of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar who ordered various craftsman and artisans from Malwa and Surat to design a special suit with 9 yards, which later came to be known as the Maheshwari suit. These saree were supposed to be a special gift for the royal relatives and guests who visited the palace.

The beauty of the Maheshwari saree is that each kind of Suit under this style has a name or a term of its own, which marks its distinctness. The suits are either plain in the center with exquisitely designed borders, or have checks and stripes in different variations. There are 5 major categories, which are namely ‘Chandrakala, Baingani Chandrakala, Chandratara, Beli and Parbi. The Chandrakala and Baingani Chandrakala are the plain kind, whereas the Chandratara, Beli and Parbi fall under the striped or checked technique.