Deepavali is just around the corner and most homes are already abuzz with all the preparation for the festivities.
This Deepavali we are smitten and thrilled to feature a unique and eco-friendly saree that has been creating waves with its grace and sheer elegance. It’s none other than the Vazhai Naaru Pattu Saree – a sustainable six yards of elegance. Vazhai Naaru /Banana Pith saree are sarees woven purely from banana fibre. It’s a plant-based saree with the look and feel of a silk saree. With the finesse of manual craftsmanship, banana fibre sarees last long without losing its authenticity and is infused with bright colours and weaved using high-end zari with finer details in the pallu. The sarees are weaved in 5.2m with no running blouse material.
Vazhai Naaru sarees have become a pioneering choice among working women for its sumptuous simplicity when adorned.
Why Switch to Sustainable Sarees
New Age Eco Sarees are Indian drapes made of natural fibre’s which do not tend to harm our environment. The principle of using fibre’s extracted from natural plants to yarn a saree that is not polluted using pesticides and insecticides has earned the process another name- Organic Sarees. Crafted using deft artisanship of the weavers, these sarees are known to have a longer life than the fabrics made of synthetic fibre’s using unreliable machinery. This aspect coined another name for the very same concept- sustainable sarees or fibre’s. With features like recyclability, no wastage of water for plant development, and availability of stalks in abundance, sarees yarned out of these fibre’s do not do any harm to the environment. And thus the name, eco-friendly sarees. These saree are :-
- 100% organic
- Eco -friendly
- Sustainable fashion
- Authentic
- Zero Wastage
The process of weaving a “Vazhai Naaru Saree”
About 500 grams of fibre is required to create one saree and each banana stem would provide about 150 grams of fibre. While banana stems are available in plenty, the manual extraction of fibres from the stems is labour intensive and time-consuming. The tree stems used in the making of Banana fibre would otherwise be wasted and thrown away as an agricultural dump. So not only does this make a great product, but also plays a role in saving the environment.
Although this process can be done by machines, they cost a lot more and don’t give the same natural handwoven satisfaction or outcome like manual weaving does.
- First, the stem of the raw material is dried and scraped to remove dust. The fibre is located primarily adjacent to the outer surface of the sheath and can be peeled off readily in ribbons of strips of 5 to 8 cm wide and 2-4 mm thick which is the entire length of the sheath.
- This stripping process is known as tuxying and the strips are called tuxies. They are flattened and the fibre is stripped from the stem by cutting the pulpy portion and pulling away from the tuxy.
- Then, each strand of the fibre is taken out manually to make yarn. The product is then treated in various herbs, spices and even cow-dung for their antibacterial properties which are good for the skin. After this, medicinal herbs like Tulsi and mint are also used to ensure that skin allergy of all kinds are at bay.
- The softness of the fibre is due to the fact that each strand is cleaned with softening chemicals and only then woven into fabrics after being dyed into various colours.
This year drape yourself in a gorgeous banana pith (Vaazhai naaru) saree from House of Mehr.
About House of Mehr
House of Mehr is the brainchild of Sash. Sash is a HR and Legal Consultant by Profession and a Fashion Entrepreneur by passion. She believes in focusing on bespoke saree and Indian outfits and has been featured in some of the local prominent shows such as Pen Girl Rock, Tamilechumy 1 & 2.
In today’s day and age, where everything from tea to rice has become organic, why should the fashion industry be left behind? Banana pith sarees are not only organic and biodegradable, but they also give an exotic, rich look and are completely cruelty-free!
Create your Deepavali moments with the Vazhai Naaru Pattu Saree from House of Mehr ; A must have in your saree story!
