A half ’n’ half silk Katan. (Saradindu Chaudhury)

The two dominant trends for saris this year are patli pallu and half ’’ half, and stores around the township have stocked up on both. The patli pallu sari is where the body is of one colour but the pleats and anchal are of another. The half ’’ half sari has two colours or designs dividing the sari in half.

The palette of the season has the brightest — electric blue, hot pink, fluorescent green, orange, yellow, deep magenta, violets…nothing is too loud. “These colours are available in both South Cotton and South Silk saris. Coimbatore Silk and Chanderi Silk saris of one bright uniform colour are contrasted in the patli pallu style with another bright colour in check designs,” says proprietor of CA Market’s Kiron Saree Emporium, Rupa Bose.

The Coimbatore silk saris are priced from Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 and Chanderi silks from Rs 4,000 to Rs 7,000. Checks are popular in tussar saris too. “Tussar saris are coming from Chhattisgarh with check motifs. These are mostly in black, mauve, magenta and red threads, woven with tussar silk threads and priced from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000,” says Bose.

At Sreejoyi Boutique, opposite IA Market, double Katan silk saris are doing well. “These are made by weaving silk threads of two different colours (shot colours) to give it a glossy look,” says owner Joyeeta Basu. These Katan silk saris cost around Rs 3,800 but customers are also going for Katan silks with hand embroidery on them. “This variety too comes in shot colours and are priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000.”

Geometric motifs are also popular picks, available around the township in tussar and different kinds of silks and are available for Rs 3,800 to Rs 5,000.

A new entrant this season is taant saris with Dhakai jamdani motifs. “Unlike traditional taant saris, these new designs have a half ’’ half look comprising two shades of a single colour, adds Basu. Floral motifs give these saris a contemporary look. They cost between Rs 2,500 and Rs 4,000.

At the West Bengal Baluchari, Katha and Silk Fair, on at EZCC’s Aikatan, jute silk saris in vibrant colours are doing well. “These are Bangalore silk saris with jute in the anchal or border for a dramatic effect,” says Papia Roy of Papia Boutique. These saris cost Rs 2,700 to Rs 5,000.

Kota saris with applique on the borders are another popular pick. “These saris are in light colours but have applique designs in batik print or colourful threads. They are suitable for Calcutta’s hot and humid weather too,” says Swagata Ghosh, a stall-owner. The saris cost Rs 900. The fair is on till September 28.