ASHAVALI BROCADE SILK SAREE:
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nAshavali brocade silk sarees are known for Gujarat's rich textiles that weaves its stories around birds singing, animals dancing and flowers blooming. In the early fifteenth century when Ahmed Shah took over the region now called Ahmedabad, it was called Ashavali, named after the Bhil tribal king who ruled that region. There were around 200 weavers in Ashaval. However, over the centuries, industrialization, lack of demand for such fabrics because of changes in lifestyle, availability of less expensive fabric and migration of weavers to the other states of India, led to its decline up to the level of extinction. But Somabhai Patel, one of the master weavers, did not let this textile go into oblivion. He continued weaving in his home at Ridrol village and gradually, with the support of his son, Vishnubhai Patel, the cluster was developed from one loom to 100 looms.
nThe saree looks characteristically like a Benarasi Brocade, and is even called an Ahmedabadi Brocade at times. The difference lies in the way the butis of the Ashavali look embossed, giving it a three-dimensional effect. Ashavali sarees are distinguished by the enamelled look of the border—which are sometimes woven onto Patola sarees—and the interwoven designs. The pallu is also very important. Radhika Lalbhai displays designs like the badshah pallu (common to Balucheri sarees) and chand-tara, and motifs like the parrot and peacock, some of which are found in other arts of Gujarat like mocha embroidery, beadwork and jaliwork.