B.     Lehengas by Fabric

A wide variety of fabric is used in making lehenga or ghagra cholis in India. Accordingly we can divide Indian lehengas by fabric in the following categories:

• Silk Lehenga
• Cotton Lehenga
• Georgette Lehenga
• Crepe Lehenga
• Net Lehenga
• Satin Lehenga
• Chiffon Lehenga

1.     Silk Lehenga

Silk lehenga is an outfit that never goes out of fashion

. Silk fabrics is mostly used in Indian wedding lehenga, bridal lehenga.

Silk Fabric
Silk, the fabric that makes its own statement. For centuries silk has had a reputation as a luxurious and sensuous fabric, one associated with wealth and success. Silk is one of the oldest textile fibers known to man. Today, silk is yet another word for elegance, and silk garments are prized for their versatility, wearability and comfort. Silk is the strongest natural fiber. Silk absorbs moisture, which makes it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Because of its high absorbency, it is easily dyed in many deep colors. Silk retains its shape, drapes well, caresses the figure, and shimmers with a luster all its own.

Design
Some famous designs on silk lehengas are:

• Silk lehenga choli with bead embroidery
• Silk lehenga choli with zori embroidery
• Silk lehenga with multi coloured zardosi and stone work
• Silk lehenga with mirror work are
• Printed silk lehngas
• Silk lehengas with patch and applique work
• Silk lehengas with thread embroidery
• Silk tie and dye lehenga cholis and many more.

Silk lehengas own a special place in medieval as well as modern times. This is a special dress for all occasions, especially party wear. Bridal silk lehengas cholis are a new trend in wedding ceremonies. Silk lehengas can be worn at Eid and other festivals. Owing to its beautiful design and colour, silk lehenga cholis give a sophisticated look.

2.     Cotton Lehenga

Though, Indian cotton lehengas with heavy embroidery, beads, sequins, zori or zordosi work are preferred for wedding and other formal occasions, cotton ghagra choli or lehengas are equally popular. The Indian lehenga in cotton gives a pure relaxing comfort.

Even today, the traditional dress for women in Rajasthan and Gujarat is the lehenga choli or ghagra choli. While the tribal and rural women preferred the embroidered lehenga choli made up of cotton fabric decorated with embroidery and mirror work, women belonging to royal families afford more intricate brocade, tanchoi and heavy satins even with real gold and silver embroidery, studded with precious stones. Still, majority of Indian ladies of Rajasthan and Gujarat prefer cotton lehenga cholis for regular wear.

Various designs available on cotton lehengas are as follow:

• The cotton lehenga choli can be plain with a multicoloured churni.
• There are embroidered cotton ghagra choli with a plain churni.
• There can be mirror work on ghagra cholis.
• Patch and applique work is another design.
• The most common and popular is the bandhani printed tie and dye cotton lehenga choli.

Generally, it is the blouse or the choli and the dupatta which are intricately embroidered in cotton ghagra cholis. Nowadays, bright coloured tie and dye cotton ghagra cholis are very popular among children.

3. Georgette Lehenga

Georgette lehenga is a traditional wear with class. Exclusive georgette lehenga is essentially a party wear or a festive wear. The soft and shimmering georgette ghagra choli is widely used as the bridal dress. The graceful drape of georgette gets perfectly blended with traditional Indian designs and patterns.

Georgette Fabric
Georgette is a lightweight fabric, often made of silk or from such manufactured fibers as polyester, with a crepe surfac e. It is slightly heavier and more opaque than chiffon. The twisted crepe fibers from which georgette is made gives it a springy quality that makes it seem to move on its own. Georgette, chiffon and crepe are considered to be summer friendly fabrics.

Design
Indian Market is famous for georgette ghagra or lehenga cholis. These georgette lehengas come in various colours and designs suitable for all kinds of occasion. Variety of designs available in georgette lehengas are as follows:

• Printed georgette lehenga. The prints can be block print, tie and dye prints, hand printed etc.
• The look of georgette ghagra choli is enhanced by zori or zardosi or embroidery work.
• There can also be beads or sequins or mirror work on georgette ghagra choli.

Coming in various colours, the collection of traditional, printed and embroidered fancy ghagra cholis made from imported and Indian fabric including georgette and crepes are a hit among the fashion conscious women of today.

4. Crepe Lehenga

Crepe fabric is used in almost all types of wardrobes from sarees and suits to bridal lehngas. Its major attraction lies in its simplicity and sobriety. It is very fashionable, fine, light fabric woven in silk. Crepe lehengas are suitable for formal get together and parties. In summer wedding crepe lehenga gives a modern look. Crepe lehenga choli makes a woman look and feel attractive. Crepe is a thin fabric of crinkled texture, woven originally in silk but now available in all major fibers. Silk crepe is a classic soft fabric with good drape characteristics. Georgette, chiffon and crepe are considered to be summer friendly fabrics.

Design
Crepe ghagra cholis come in variety of colours and designs. The printed crepe cholis are very popular. Crepe ghagra choli with resham zordozi embroidery work done on them increases the beauty of a lady. Gold metallic embroidery increases the look of a crepe lehenga. Crepe ghagra cholis with heavy embroidery give a traditional yet modern look for the summer wedding and reception. The famous Mysore Crepe lehengas, trendy lehengas, traditional crepe lehengas are the most sensuous of all designer Indian bridal wear. It is slinky, light and figure hugging and it makes a bride look and feel beguiling.

The collection of traditional, printed and embroidered fancy ghagra cholis made from imported and Indian fabric including georgette and crepes are a hit among the fashion conscious women of today.