Kornad saree is now one of south India`s most well-known sarees. This type of saree originated from Tamil Nadu itself and has earned fame due to the traditional affluence and the usage of excellent fabrics. The borders of these sarees are decorated with different designs. The borders of these sarees are approximately 10 to 40 centimetres wide, woven in a plain colour, with two narrow bands of supplementary-warp patterning. This is known as kampi or pettu (stripe) and is positioned within 3 centimetres of each border edge. These sarees are widely famous for their extensive use in marriages and other occasions. The body of the Kornad saree traditionally contains a woven pattern, usually checks or stripes. The endpiece of the saree contains either a series of widely spaced zari stripes or, in more expensive and elaborate versions, supplementary-weft figuring. The common form of the endpiece of Kornad saree is found in a wide band which is usually of zari, with weft-wise triangular points woven in the interlocked-weft technique. The designs of these sarees also vary as the designs differ from straight edged border or with various styles of triangular motifs called, mokku (flower bud) ranging from simple triangles (pogudi) to serrated mounds (pillaiyar mokku). Such serrated borders are also known as karavai (sawtooth). Many Kornad saris are named after the colour of their borders like arakku sari has a lac-dyed (red) border, and pudapayalam karavai a yellow serrated border.

The Kornad saree of south India are mostly woven in eastern Tamil Nadu, in Kanchipuram, Salem, Arni, Madras, Kumbakonam and Thanjavore (Tanjore). Though Arni was considered to be one of the major centres for these sarees in the nineteenth century, but today Kanchipuram is regarded as the most important Tamil silk-weaving centres. The Kumbakonam or Thanjavur area of South India creates heavy- to medium-weight Kornad silks similar in style and technique to Kanchipuram`s although the endpiece warps are attached differently. A more traditional variation of the Kornad saree is the so-called `temple` saree. One type of traditional Kornad saree, often called a temple saree, is the interlocked weft-woven `mubbhagam` saree that has its two borders and field of equal widths. The borders of these sarees are bedecked in the usual unembellished style with the two pettu. But sometimes but the entire length of the narrow field is covered with fine-quality supplementary-weft zari patterning woven as a series of weft-wise rows. These designs include motifs like elephants, peacocks, double-headed eagles and foliate floral vines.

Technically the Kornad saree is a figured silk, but its distinctive appearance sets it apart from the others. The Kornad saree of south India has been occupying the position of one of the traditional sarees because of its exclusive designs and weaving technique. The exclusive representation of natural elements gets an extra charm in the hands of the weavers. The sarees are available in soothing and traditional colours. The exclusively designed borders of Kornad sarees make them stand apart among the other sarees.