Where to buy second-hand sarees

Aussie Meher

Hi all,

First of all, thank you for this forum. I've been an observer for a while now, but just getting ready to hit the road for a month after living in India for a year and I have a few questions to ask.

My first one is about purchasing second-hand sarees. I love Indian textiles and am excited to head home with some second-hand cotton sarees that I can cut up for quilting and other craft projects. I've heard that there are second-hand saree markets in Kolkata, but am not sure if there's anything like that anywhere else? If so, I'd love it if someone could provide the details.

I'm currently in Chennai but will probably be traveling through Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Delhi, Chandigarh, Agra (and Kolkata if we have time!)

Thanks so much!

AM

Nick-H

How much would you expect to pay, and how many would you want?

My suspicion is you might as well buy them new; cotton saris can be had very cheaply, and even the nicer ones will not cost a great deal.

You can also get all kinds of wonderful silks and other stuff, by the metre, at prices that might pleasantly surprise you.

In any case, if you enjoy fabric, your trip won't be complete without visits to the bigger sari shops. My personal favourites are Nalli and RMKV in T. Nagar, and Radha Silk Emporium (Rassi Silks) in Mylapore.

For cheaper cotton saris, though, better to visit the "local" shops, away from the posher areas. If you are really serious, the is a whole street of this stuff up to the North of the city; check out Washermanpet.

Welcome to the site, to India and to Chennai

abhijitbanerjee

If you're visiting Kolkata, pay a visit to Barabazaar which is very close to Howrah Railway Station. This is one of the largest markets for Sarees and other garments in the Asian subcontinent and you can get sarees at astonishing prices if you purchase in bulk, less than Rs. 100 a piece.

capt_mahajan

New cheap cotton saris will cost just a couple of hundred rupees. (crossposted, so its even cheaper!)

Pavements in the poorer areas/slums of cities sometimes sell second hand saris. Dunno shops. If you are in Chennai, ask somebody like the person who cleans your room where secondhand clothes are easily available close to where you are.

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Aussie Meher

Wow, thanks for your speedy response!

It's not so much about the price, but the history and softness of buying old cotton sarees. I don't like the stiffness of the starched cotton sarees. And I'm a bit of a greenie, so the chance to recycle something excites me too!

Yeah, Washermanpet, I came across that for the first time today and thought it was one of many Indian typos! I'll have to look it up in my map book.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Nick-H

Do you think they might have a problem comprehending the "wealthy foreigner" wanting to buy second-hand?

capt_mahajan

Come to think of it, yes, they might.

The OP may end up paying more than what a new sari is worth

Haylo

Others have already replied to this, but I also wanted to say that even in areas of Delhi where it seems you can buy absolutely everything, I've never seen a second hand clothes shop / market. There isn't the same charity shop culture either, which is such a good source of second hand clothes in the West.

No doubt, now I've said that, someone will come along with a list of them!

I agree with the other posters, you can get the most beautiful saris incredibly cheaply, even in cotton, especially considering the amount of cloth in them.

Fabric can be even cheaper than saris, but I used to buy saris for dressmaking because I loved having the borders and pallau to incorporate into my designs. Presumably, depending on the look you're going for, quilting would also benefit from this.

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Aussie Meher

Thank you all for your thoughts and ideas. Yes, Haylo, I'm on your wavelength with using the pallu and borders. Sarees are the most amazing things ever!

Yes, I have already had mixed reactions (mostly surprise and confusion!) from locals about buying second hand sarees. I think there's a whole lot of cultural issues behind it, but so far no-one has been negative about it. Maybe I can help start a new attitude towards second hand items!

If anyone else has any ideas, let me know.

AM

nayan

In a middle class family - saris, once old, will usually be handed down within the family or given to the maids or exchanged for utensils, buckets etc. So they are already reused and recycled extensively.
If a persn who can afford a new saree buys a second hand saree she would be thought to be the ultimate aunty scrooge

I know a second hand clothes market in khidderpore(kolkata)but I dont think that has saris.

snonymous

Since you are in Chennai, ask in any sari shop for "Erode" cotton sarees. The brand new ones are about Rs 180 here in Bombay [in exhibitions], which I buy sometimes to use as pretty curtain liners.

Polyester sarees better known as "Surat sarees" are also available at anything from Rs 100 onwards. You will find them in all popular market areas in all Indian cities and towns.

If you take a look at busy street stalls near railway stations, you are bound to find very cheap new sarees there too.

As far as second hand sarees go, what Nayan says is correct, we all give our old clothes or clothes that we are fed up with, to family or to maids. I haven't seen the exchange man in Bombay for a long time but Im sure this practice still exists in smaller places.

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Nick-H

I sometimes see advertisements in the newspaper offering to buy old silk saris. What do they do with them?

snonymous

Probably melt the zari [jarige]. Previously and even now in expensive saris, real silver is used in the zari.

Nick-H

That would make sense.

*jyoti*

Even if they dont' understand, I doubt they'll overcharge. People selling second hand saris are probably not used to dealing with foreigners and looking for a mark.

I was looking for house stuff in Bangalore and found some big, round baskets perfect for throwing shoes in when I came in the house. I went back and asked the fellow sitting by them how much. He told me, "New ones are 50 ... so 30?" Then he asked, "Why do you want a used basket?" I hadn't even realized they were used! But it was for shoes so I didn't care. Anyay, he was sweet & didn't try to fleece me as much as think I was weird.