One end is passed twice round the waist, upper borderf tied in a strong knot, and allowed to fall in graceful folds to the ankle, thus forming a sort of petticoat or skirt. Today in the urban and semi-urban areas of India, modes of economy and production have radically changed, but one factor that remains constant is the presence of the Saree in the life of the Indian woman. It is interesting that even women in Western countries have begun to develop some interest in Sarees for their graceful decoration of female form.

The word Saree is anglicized from 'Sadi', which existed in Prakrit language As Sadia and originated from Sanskrit 'Sati' meaning a strip of clot. Sati, occurs in the 'Mahabharata' and perhaps earlier, but the nature of this garment in those times and how it was worn, is difficult to gauge accurately. It is certain that the art was highly cultivated. There are innumerable references in ancient Indian literature to the draped garment and its style.

As far as length and woven proportions of the draped garment is concerned, it mostly depends on the cultural area and conjunction of use and varies from almost a square piece of about 125 cm. to the standard urban rectangular Saree, about 5 m. long and 120 cm. broad. With respect to the material from which these Sarees are made and their texture, these aspects vary from one handloom centre to another. As to the material of choice, cotton naturally occupies the first place: followed by mixtures of cottons and silk, rayon and their blends of cottons and lastly silk with ornamented brocading. The silk Sarees of southern India use heavy lustrous silk and broad borders and elaborate pallus, with contrasting colour combinations, which result in harmonious colour blends Kancheepuram, Tanjore and Kumbakonam, are the important centers of Tamil Nadu. Sangareddy and Dharmaswaram in Andhra Pradesh, Kolegal and Molkalmoru in Mysore, are also famous silk- weaving centers