14 Chanderi lehengas you can add to your wedding wardrobe this season

By Nupur Sarvaiya16 October 2019

Swap the heavy-duty lehengas with a lightweight Chanderi number to channel the elegance of the favoured ethnic silhouette without any discomfort

Even when you’re just attending as a guest, dressing for a wedding is a marathon, not a sprint. No matter what the season or location, lehenga fatigue inevitably occurs. For those who want to wear a lehenga to the upcoming celebrations on their calendar, but don’t like the idea of a heavy-duty outfit, we’ve got an easy solution—just reconsider the wedding staple in more lightweight, breathable fabrics.

It’s important to note that a lightweight lehenga doesn't equate a less dressy iteration than its intricately embroidered counterparts. Gossamer fabrics run the gamut from organzas to organic cottons, and you can take your pick between any of them. One of our favourites is the timeless Chanderi weave. “Locals say they say Chanderi is so light that it is simply woven air, bunni hui hawa,” Sangay Garg of Raw Mango once told us in an interview. Though the fabric is most popular to craft saris, it also makes a winning choice for wedding-ready lehengas. Ahead, we give you more details about the fabric, and list out the best Chanderi lehengas you can invest in this season.

The history of Chanderi fabrics

Among the best and oldest handloom clusters in India, the weaving culture of Chanderi emerged between the second and seventh centuries before rising to prominence in the eleventh century. Named after a town in Madhya Pradesh’s Ashoknagar district, which is the epicentre of this textile’s production, Chanderi has found patronage among royalty in the yesteryears, including the Mughal king, Aurangzeb. It has also has been mentioned in mythological stories and historical texts—according to the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna’s cousin, Shishupal invented the fabric.

A centuries-old weaving technique, Chanderi produces three kinds of fabrics: pure silk, cotton and silk cotton. The textile is further embellished with woven zari work that gives it a shimmering texture, making it perfect for occasion wear. Its sheer texture, glossy transparency and most importantly, light weight sets is apart. The zari work also renders itself as striking motifs, spanning across coin, floral, fruit, peacock and geometric designs.

The best Chanderi lehengas to consider for wedding season

Shyam Narayan Prasad’s Chanderi lehenga set comes peppered with brocade kalis, and is ideal for a traditional Anand Karaj ceremony. Rahul Mishra's monochrome lehenga made from cut-work Chanderi and Raw Mango's pristine lehenga wouldn’t look out of place at a destination wedding, whereas Rohit Bal’s white creation, featuring a jacket-style top, serves as a glamorous pick for a sangeet or cocktail party. Printed lehengas by Torani, Ekaya and Punit Balana are great for a mehandi, while Anita Dongre’s design, as seen on Mira Rajput Kapoor at Lakmé Fashion Week summer/resort 2018, will be perfect for a daytime wedding ceremony. Scroll ahead for our edit of the best Chanderi lehengas you can introduce in your wedding wardrobe as lightweight but statement-making options.

Lehenga, Ekaya