Kerala sari

Surviving medieval Kerala mural paintings depict existence of three-styles of clothing worn by women, these include one-piece mundum, single-piece sari with over-lapping pleats resembling nivi-drape worn today by Mohiniyattam dancers and two-piece mundam-neryathum attire which evolved into Kerala sari.

[1][2][3] Balaramapuram, Chendamangalam and Kuthampully are the three major sari weaving centres in Kerala, these clusters have been given a Geographical Indication Tag by the Indian Government and all three are famous for the weaving of Kasavu saris notable for its white cotton or silk textile with golden borders.

[5][6][7] The Kuthampully cluster is based in Thrissur District, their history dates back 500 years when their forefathers came to Kerala from Mysore.

[9] Both the traditional and modern styles of the mundum neryathum are depicted in the paintings of the Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma.

In one of his paintings, the Indian subcontinent was shown as a mother wearing a flowing nivi saree.