<P> "Jama" means robe and "war" is yard . The base of the Jamawar is mostly resham, with perhaps an addition of a little polyester . The brocaded parts are woven in similar threads of silk and polyester . Most of the designs seen today are floral, with the kairy (i.e. the paisley) as the predominant motif . </P> <P> Today, the best Jamawar is woven in Pakistan . This fabric is widely used in that country for bridal and special occasion outfits . The texture and weave of patterns is such that the fabric often gets caught when rubbed against rough surfaces (metallic embroidery, jewellery etc .) it must therefore be handled delicately when worn . </P> <P> Traders introduced this Chinese silk cloth to India, mainly from Samarkand and Bukhara and it gained immense popularity among the royalty and the aristocracy . King and nobles bought the woven fabric by the yard, wearing it as a gown or using it as a wrap or shawl . Jamawar weaving centres in India developed in the holy cities and the trade centres . The most well known Jamawar weaving centres were in Assam, Gujrat, Malwa and South India . </P> <P> Due to its rich and fine raw materials, the rich and powerful merchants used Jamawar and noblemen of the time, who could not only afford it but could even commission the weavers to make the fabric for them, as in the case of the Mughals . Emperor Akbar was one of its greatest patrons . He brought many weavers from East Turkestan to Kashmir . </P>

Names of different varieties of silk made in india