Densely Woven Brocade from Banaras
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>Artist: Kasim Family of Varanasi. 28.5 Inches Wide
Complete your look
Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Banaras has woven silk since the Mughal courts commissioned its finest kincobs for royal robes. This brocade comes from the Kasim family of Varanasi, inheritors of a tradition that counts its years in centuries, not decades. The density you see here is no accident: it is the result of a draw loom strung with hundreds of supplementary weft threads, each pass of the shuttle building the relief pattern incrementally. Genuine Banarasi brocade of this weight is increasingly rare, as younger generations move away from the loom. This piece belongs to a shrinking category of honest, unhurried craft.
How to style
Worn as a sari with a plain georgette or tissue blouse, this brocade needs no further ornamentation; its own surface is the statement. For a wedding reception, pair it with uncut emerald drops and ivory Kolhapuri heels. As a lehenga skirt anchored beneath a sheer chanderi dupatta, it suits a daytime mehendi without feeling heavy. The third reading is architectural: draped as a pre-stitched skirt with a structured silk blouse, accompanied by oxidised silver ear cuffs, it carries comfortably into a cultural evening or a museum opening. Let the weave speak first.
Fabric & care
Pure silk of this density must be dry-cleaned exclusively; water weakens the brocaded supplementary weft and risks colour migration in the zari areas. Between wearings, fold the fabric along its natural creases, wrap it in a clean muslin cloth, and store it flat inside a breathable cotton bag. Never use a plastic cover, which traps moisture and encourages mildew. Do not hang this sari on a hanger for extended periods, as the weight of the brocade will distort the drape permanently. Aired carefully after each wearing and stored correctly, this piece will last several generations without losing its lustre.
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