Nita Ambani’s ₹11 lakh Jamdani saree turns heads in US:What’s behind the magic of India’s saree industry

The approximately ₹11 lakh worth Jamdani saree, which Asia’s second-richest man, Mukesh Ambani’s wife, Nita Ambani, wore at the TIME100 Summit in New York turned heads during the event. This specific cream coloured saree is a rare masterpiece that took two years or 24 months for West Bengal-based Padma Shri awardee Biren Kumar Basak and his team to weave. Who is Biren Kumar Basak? Biren Kumar Basak is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the sari business. The sarees woven by him and his team are sold across the country and his company clocks an annual business of over ₹50 crore just by selling apparels. Saree is much more than just a piece of clothing in India. It is a symbol of culture and a massive engine for the Indian economy. As of 2026, the saree industry continues to be one of the most imperative sectors in the country. The Magic of Jamdani sarees: Within this giant industry, there are special luxury sarees like the Jamdani. Jamdani is a traditional way of weaving cloth by hand, famous for its thin fabric and beautiful floral patterns. Most Jamdani sarees are woven in West Bengal followed by Hyderabad. Key details of the Jamdani saree Artisanship: Handwoven in Phulia, West Bengal, it is a peculiar Meenakari Jamdani work. Designing: It depicts Bengal’s textile legacy with imprints of trees and animals designed all over. Origin: The piece was sourced through Swadesh, a Reliance Foundation initiative aimed at promoting Indian heritage crafts. Reliance Foundation bought the saree from Basak. What is the cost of Jamdani sarees? According to the famous Jamdani saree maker, Biren Kumar Basak (whose clients include Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee), these sarees cost from a few thousand to over a lakh of rupees, depending on how much handwork is involved. Didi and Saurav Ganguly’s family, late renowned singers Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar were also patrons of Jamdani sarees. The white saree that Mamata ji always wears is mostly Jamdani. She generally buys low-range ones, which usually cost around ₹3,000. We also weave Jamdani kurtas. We had also gifted PM Modi a sheet handcrafted in Jamdani style. -Padma Shree awardee Biren Kumar Basak How big is India’s saree Industry? The saree market in India is huge and growing every year. According to recent data from the IMARC Group, the Indian saree market was valued at over ₹57,000 crore in 2025. While modern clothes like jeans and tops are popular, the saree remains the ‘queen’ of Indian fashion. How many people work in this industry? The saree industry is one of the biggest job-givers in India. In fact, after farming, the textile and handloom industry is the second-largest employer in the country. Total Textile Workers: According to the Ministry of Textiles, more than 4.5 crore people are directly employed in the textile sector. Handloom Weavers: Specifically for hand-woven sarees (like Jamdani, Banarasi, or Kanchipuram), there are over 43 lakh weavers across India. India’s saree industry – a rural lifeline This industry is a rural lifeline. While big factories manufacture some sarees, millions of families in small villages survive by weaving sarees at home. When people buy a saree, they just don’t buy a dress. They actually provide support to over a ₹57,000 crore industry and help provide a livelihood for over 4.5 crore people.