Black-Beauty Handloom Banarasi Saree with Brocaded Floral Motifs and Heavy Pallu
Hand-wash gently with mild detergent. Do not wring. Dry in shade, iron on the lowest setting.
Description
Pure Chiffon<br>Weaver Ansar Ali. Blouse/Underskirt Tailormade to Size
Complete your look
Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Varanasi has woven brocade for over five centuries, its karkhanas producing silk and chiffon sarees that once dressed the courts of Mughal nobility. This black chiffon Banarasi carries that lineage forward through the hands of weaver Ansar Ali, whose family belongs to the kaarigari tradition of the city's Muslim weaving community. The floral motifs are rendered in a technique called kadhwa, where each brocaded bloom is woven individually into the ground rather than cut across the back. The heavy pallu is the signature of Banaras at its most generous.
How to style
For a winter wedding reception, pair this saree with a full-sleeved velvet blouse in deep wine and Hyderabadi polki choker. At a formal cultural evening, drape it in the Gujarati seedha pallu style over a boat-neck raw silk blouse in ivory. For a contemporary day occasion, pair with a structured black silk blouse, Kolhapuri block heels in tan, and a single Rajasthani silver cuff. The black ground is a gift to the jewellery lover: it accepts gold, silver, and oxidised metal with equal composure.
Fabric & care
Pure chiffon woven for brocade work requires careful handling. Dry-clean only; hand-washing risks distorting the delicate woven motifs and pulling the brocaded threads. Never wring or twist the fabric. After cleaning, air-dry flat in shade, away from direct sunlight, which causes black grounds to fade to a dull grey over time. Store loosely folded in a muslin cloth rather than plastic, allowing the chiffon to breathe. Refold along different lines each season to prevent permanent crease marks at the brocade. With proper care, this saree will hold its lustre for decades.
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