Bangalore: This strip of cloth which ranges from 4 to 8 meters in length is the symbol of our nation’s traditional feminity. Bollywood actresses like Ashwariya Rai and Deepika Padukone, have made international appearances wearing this traditional outfit. Even Hollywood personalities like Pamela Anderson, Ashley Judd and the members of The Pussycat Dolls have donned our saree. It flawlessly portrays the flair of glamour and poise in women.

Handlooms occupy second place to agriculture in providing livelihood to the people of the state. The late Meera Basu started working with weavers from the handloom hubs in Bengal over 40 years ago and produced one of the first exclusive brands of Bengal sarees, while Darshan Shah set up Weavers Studio in 1993 not just as a business venture but also as an effort to build an educational centre and archives for Bengal handlooms.

#6 Nextiles

Rs 18-20 lakh was the turnover in 2012

Suchismita Dasgupta started Nextiles in 2004 with a vision to create exclusive textiles and designs using age old Indian techniques.  Nextiles focuses on the most important aspects of a garment: fabric, fit, and tailoring quality. Working closely with weavers, embroiderers and printers from all over India, Nextiles' main focus is to translate the traditional handwork into styles that suit the global audience. To find new markets for traditional textiles crafts and hand woven fabric, the design team works to re-articulate these fabrics in the form of contemporary styles with an urban context.

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