Saree Laces Buying Guide: Cotton, Guipure, Ric Rac and Nylon

The right lace turns a plain saree or blouse into something people ask about. The wrong one looks stuck on. With so many kinds on the rack, the choice comes down to the fabric you are trimming, the look you want, and how the lace has to wash and wear.

These are the saree laces we sell most at our counter, what each one is good for, and the questions to settle before you buy. Whether you trim one saree or run a boutique, the same logic applies.

Cotton laces for everyday and ethnic wear

Cotton laces have a soft, matte finish and a handmade feel that suits cotton sarees, kurtas, ethnic wear and home furnishing. They take dye well, breathe, and look right against khadi and handloom where a shiny synthetic lace would clash. Crochet and lace-edge cotton trims are favourites for a quiet, traditional border.

They are not the most hard-wearing option, so on a garment that washes often, pre-wash the lace first to check for shrinkage and colour run. For everyday sarees, a good cotton lace border is hard to beat for the price and the natural look.

Guipure laces for a rich, raised border

Guipure lace has motifs joined by bars instead of a net background, which gives it a thick, raised, almost embroidered look. It reads as rich and structured, so it is the go-to for bridal blouses, lehenga borders, gowns and designer sarees where the lace is meant to be the centrepiece.

Because it has body, guipure sits well on heavier fabrics like silk and velvet and holds its shape on a wide border. Pair a guipure border with a matching applique or patch at the pallu corner and the whole piece looks designed rather than assembled.

Ric rac and nylon fancy laces

Ric rac is the zig-zag trim every tailor knows. It is cheap, cheerful and quick to stitch, ideal for kidswear, blouse piping, layered borders and a playful accent. A double row of ric rac in two colours makes a simple frock look finished.

Nylon and other fancy laces bring the shine. They are strong, hold colour well, and come in endless patterns and metallic finishes for party wear and net sarees. They can look plasticky on matte cotton, so save the shiny nylon and fancy laces for fabrics that already have some sheen, like georgette, net and satin.

Matching the lace to the garment

Two quick checks save returns. First, weight: a heavy guipure drags down a light chiffon dupatta, while a thin cotton lace gets lost on a heavy silk border. Second, finish: matte lace with matte fabric, shiny lace with shiny fabric, unless you want deliberate contrast.

For lehenga and saree work, the lace is only part of the picture. A good cancan net underskirt gives the volume that makes a bordered lehenga sit right, so think about the trim and the structure together.

A lace shop near you in Chennai

If you are searching for a lace shop near me, our counter in Rattan Bazaar, Sowcarpet carries cotton laces, guipure laces, ric rac and nylon fancy laces in a wide range of widths, colours and designs, retail and wholesale by the metre and the roll. Boutiques and tailors across Chennai have bought their borders from us for over sixty years. Send a photo of your saree or blouse on WhatsApp at +91 98402 69851 and we will suggest laces that match, or ask for our wholesale rates on bulk rolls.