Iceberg-Green and Pink Banarasi Salwar Kameez Fabric with All-Over Woven Flowers
Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin pouch away from direct sunlight to keep the sheen alive.
Description
Varanasi offers this quietly arresting fabric, where iceberg-green grounds a profusion of woven flowers in warm pink, each bloom holding the memory of a loom's careful rhythm. Art silk, the accessible cousin of pure mulberry, carries Banarasi weave traditions with surprising fidelity, its surface catching light the way still water does at dusk. The all-over floral motif speaks to the continuous-field compositions favoured by Banaras weavers across generations, where no inch of cloth is left to silence. Woven on jacquard-assisted looms in the ancient weaving quarters of Varanasi, the fabric offers that characteristic drape, soft yet with just enough body to hold a well-cut silhouette. As a made-to-measure salwar kameez, it moves beautifully between a formal family gathering and a festive afternoon occasion where one wishes to be elegant without being conspicuous. For styling, pair it with a plain churidar in a deep rose or ivory to let the fabric's own pattern remain the conversation. Minimal gold jewellery, perhaps a single antique kada, would complete the ensemble with appropriate restraint.
Complete your look
Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Banaras has woven silk into ceremony for centuries, its looms producing textiles that once dressed royalty and adorned temple offerings. This fabric carries that lineage in a quieter register: art silk threads worked on Jacquard-assisted power looms in the weaving quarters of Varanasi, rendering an all-over floral jaal in the tradition the city is famous for. The iceberg-green ground is unusual, a colour that reads differently in morning light and evening candlelight. Pink flowers rise across the surface with the even confidence that only structured loom-weaving can produce.
How to style
Stitch this as a straight-cut kurta with palazzo trousers in blush pink raw silk for a Diwali gathering. The floral weave needs no embroidery; let uncut polki earrings in silver do the speaking. For a daytime wedding function, pair it as an anarkali with ivory churidar and kolhapuri sandals in tan. A third reading: cut it into a short kurta with wide-leg ivory pants and finish with oxidised silver bangles for a cultural evening or art preview where restraint is the point.
Fabric & care
Art silk is a cellulose-based fibre, softer than polyester but less forgiving than pure silk when handled carelessly. Hand wash in cool water with a gentle, pH-neutral detergent; never wring. Support the full weight of the wet fabric as you lift it from the basin. Dry flat in shade, away from direct sun, which can shift the green ground over time. Do not tumble-dry. Iron on a low-heat setting with a pressing cloth placed between the iron and the fabric surface. Store folded in muslin, not plastic.
More from made to order
Sale
Sale
Sale
Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to share your thoughts.
From the Journal
Stories about the craft, the loom, and the wearing of a piece like this one.
