The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Co-optex saris to match festival of lights

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Friday, Sep 19, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Co-optex saris to match festival of lights

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S. Thanthoni

Astounding: K.K.S.S.R.Ramachandran, Minister for Handlooms, inaugurates the ‘light and sound sari’ in Co-optex showroom at Egmore in Chennai on Thursday.

CHENNAI: You can even light up this Deepavali with your sari. Wondering how?

Co-optex has launched new ‘light and sound saris’ to celebrate the festival of lights.

Tiny coloured bulbs sewn amongst the hundreds of decorative stones blink red, blue, green and yellow, the moment the nine volt battery is turned on. This Arani silk sari is part of Co-optex’s Deepavali collection, which was launched on Thursday at the Thillaiadi Valliammai complex in Egmore by Minister for Handlooms K.K.S.S.R.Ramachandran.

The new collection, based on the theme of lamps, has 15 silk and five cotton saris with lamp designs from the common agal to big brass lamps such as sara vilakku and paavai vilakku in zari. Weavers P.J.Thangavel and S.Harikumar from Kancheepuram, who have made the innovative light and sound sari say there is no chance of getting a shock from the light bulbs and that the sari will light up for three hours continuously.

“A tiny chip embedded in the sari makes the sound and light possible. There is another thin layer of cloth covering the wiring thus making it safe for women to wear,” said M.P.Nirmala, Co-optex Managing Director. The Arani silk saris are priced between Rs.4,500 and Rs.6,000. New designer sari collections in silk with zardosi embroidery work having American diamonds are also available.

The Minister inaugurated the new section of traditional saris including Chedibutta from Tirunelveli, Negamam, Vanavasi from Salem, Woraiyur, Kodambakkam, Paramakudi and Devendra varieties.

Woraiyur, Kodambakkam and Devendra varieties can be had in six, eight and nine yard lengths. A discount of 30 percent is being offered on all silk and cotton saris and 20 per cent on ready-mades and power loom products till the end of the festive season.

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