Bridal Wear: Lehengas and Sarees

How bridal wear, from Banarasi sarees to designer lehengas, supports weavers, designers and retailers, and how rentals and resale are changing the market.

Bridal wear is a big part of wedding spending.

Traditional wear

Banarasi silk sarees from Varanasi.
Kanjeevaram silk sarees from Tamil Nadu.
Lehengas with embroidery like zardozi.

Designers

Designers like Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra sell high-end bridal wear, some costing lakhs of rupees.

Artisans

Weavers and embroiderers make much bridal wear by hand.
Many earn low wages despite high retail prices.

Rentals

Rental platforms let brides rent designer outfits for a fraction of the price.
Worn once, expensive outfits are a poor use of money for many.

Resale

Second-hand bridal wear markets are growing.

Economic view

Bridal wear shows value chains where artisans capture little of the final price.

The rented lehenga

A bride rents a designer lehenga for her reception at a tenth of its purchase price, returning it the next day.

Thinking artisans earn most of bridal wear prices

Designers and retailers capture much of the value.

Key takeaways

Bridal wear includes Banarasi and Kanjeevaram sarees and lehengas.
Designers sell high-end outfits.
Artisans often earn low wages.
Rentals and resale are growing.