Art Institute of Chicago

Woman's Sari

India

Date

Late 19th century

Medium

Silk and gilt-metal-wrapped thread, plain weave with supplementary pattern wefts

Culture

India

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The Hindi word sari translates to “strip [length] of cloth,” and the garment has a history that dates back as far as 2000 BCE. Worn throughout Southeast Asia, the sari is mostly associated with India. The exact method of wrapping this garment varies widely; typically, a woman wraps and pleats the sari around her waist and then drapes it over one shoulder, sometimes covering her head. A sari is worn with a short, fitted blouse called a choli , and sometimes with an underskirt. The brilliant red color of this sari is associated with wedding attire.

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