Golden Brocaded Floral Fabric Hand-woven in 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>Weaver Kasim Family of Banaras. 23 Inches Wide
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Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Banaras has woven gold into silk for over five centuries, and this fabric carries that unbroken memory. The Kasim family, rooted in the weaving quarters of Varanasi, works on pit looms where each pass of the shuttle is a deliberate act. The brocade technique here is katan silk interlaced with zari, producing floral motifs that sit slightly raised against the ground, catching light as the cloth moves. This is not pattern printed or embroidered after the fact. It is structure, built thread by thread, before the fabric even leaves the loom.
How to style
Cut this into an unlined jacket worn over ivory silk separates for a museum opening or literary evening. A blouse piece sewn from this fabric pairs beautifully beneath a plain Kanjivaram or a muted tussar sari, letting the Banarasi gold anchor the entire drape. For a wedding function, stitch it as a lehenga border panel and finish the look with uncut polki earrings and kolhapuri heels in antique gold. The floral brocade reads equally well in day interiors and candlelit halls, making it a versatile investment rather than a single-occasion indulgence.
Fabric & care
Pure silk brocade with real zari requires dry cleaning as the first and preferred option. If hand washing is necessary, use cold water with a gentle, pH-neutral cleanser and never wring or twist the fabric. Lay it flat on a clean cotton towel to dry, away from direct sunlight, which dulls silk lustre over time. Store folded in unbleached muslin, not plastic, to allow the fibre to breathe. Refold along different lines every few months to prevent permanent crease marks. Properly stored, this fabric will hold its weave and sheen for decades.
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From the Journal
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