Mangalgiri Bottle Green Silk Cotton Saree Temple Border

A handwoven Mangalgiri saree in deep bottle green with a glinting silver zari temple border crisp light cotton silk that carries you from a workday to an evening function Woven on traditional pit looms in the Mangalgiri Pedana cluster of Andhra Pradesh this saree sets a fine self striped bottle green body against a contrasting gopuram temple step zari border and a warm mustard toned pallu Mangalgiri weaving carries a Geographical Indication GI No 180 and a 500 year lineage the tight pit loom weave is what gives the cloth its signature dry sheen A mulberry silk warp and 100s mercerized cotton weft keep it light to drape yet structured enough to hold a clean pleat How to spot the real handloom The gopuram zari border is woven into the cloth not stitched on the temple triangles and minute checks read cleanly on both faces a powerloom copy looks flat and one sided The field stays plain bar its fine self stripe real Mangalgiri keeps the zari to the border and pallu and never scatters machine made buti across the body Run a hand over it a slightly crisp dry grip with tiny weft irregularities is the pit loom and mercerized yarn signature not the slippery uniform feel of a poly blend Wear it for Office days daytime functions and small pujas pair with the matching blouse oxidised silver jhumkas and a fresh flower bun