Black Banarasi Brocade Fabric with Hand-woven Flowers and Zari Weave
Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin pouch away from direct sunlight to keep the sheen alive.
Description
Pure Silk Handloom Brocade<br> Weaver Kasim Family of Banaras. Width - 23 inch
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Behind this piece
Banaras has woven silk and gold for over five centuries, its looms humming through Mughal patronage and beyond. This black brocade carries that lineage in every thread. The Kasim family, rooted in the weaving mohallas of Varanasi, works the pit loom by hand, interlacing real zari with pure silk to raise floral motifs from the ground of the fabric itself. Black grounds in Banarasi brocade are historically prized: they throw the gold into sharp relief, giving the textile a depth that printed or embroidered cloth rarely achieves. This is cloth made for ceremony.
How to style
Cut this fabric into a structured silk blouse to pair with a cream or ivory Kanjeevaram saree, letting the gold zari carry the jewellery work. For a sharper silhouette, have it tailored into a full-sleeved anarkali kurta worn over wide-leg churidar, then accessorise with uncut polki earrings and gold juttis. A third option: a brocade corset-style choli with a plain georgette lehenga skirt in deep burgundy, ideal for a winter wedding reception. In every case, keep the dupatta lightweight so the brocade fabric remains the unchallenged centrepiece of the look.
Fabric & care
Pure silk zari brocade must never meet a washing machine. Hand-wash is also inadvisable as water weakens the real zari and can distort the hand-woven floats. Dry-clean only, and inform your cleaner of the metallic content. Store the fabric folded on a muslin cloth rather than plastic, which traps moisture. Avoid direct sunlight during storage, as black silk can fade to a brownish tone over time. If the fabric is resting between uses, refold it along different lines every few months to prevent permanent crease marks along the silk threads.
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