Kasavu
The gold zari border of Kerala, and the cream handloom cotton saree and set-mundu that carry it.
Also: kasavu saree, kasavu mundu, kavani
Kasavu is the Malayalam word for zari, and by extension for the gold border woven on cream cotton in Kerala. The cloth is off-white or cream, plain on the body, with a gold border and sometimes a gold band across the pallu. Kasavu sarees and set-mundus are woven in Balaramapuram, Chendamangalam, Kuthampully and other handloom centres. The cloth is worn for Onam, Vishu, temple visits, weddings and dance performances. Real zari is costly, and tested zari or a copper-based thread is common now, though some weavers still use the pure kind on request.