Jacket from Srinagar with Hand-Embroidered Florals and Paisleys
Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin pouch away from direct sunlight to keep the sheen alive.
Description
A jacket that carries the memory of a Kashmiri garden in full bloom. The silk ground is a deep, declarative tomato red, the kind of colour that has long animated the showrooms of Srinagar's craftsmen and the wedding trousseaux of the valley. Worked across its surface by hand are the classic motifs of Kashmiri embroidery: curving paisleys derived from the ancient boteh form, and florals that echo the chinar and the rose garden both. The needlework belongs to the tradition of sozni and aari craft, practised by artisan communities in and around the Dal Lake basin, where the art of embellishing silk has been refined over several centuries. Each stitch is placed with a patience that no machine can replicate, giving the surface a gentle dimensionality that shifts as you move. Wear it over ivory or cream separates to let the red speak without competition. It crosses occasions with ease, from a festive family gathering to an arts evening where the conversation is as carefully considered as the clothes.
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Behind this piece
This jacket arrives from Srinagar, where the art of Kashida embroidery has been practised for centuries along the banks of the Dal Lake. Skilled artisans, trained in the lineage of Kashmiri needle-workers, coax each floral and paisley motif into silk by hand, one measured stitch at a time. The paisley form, known locally as keri, carries Persian roots absorbed into the Kashmir Valley's visual language over generations. On bittersweet and tomato silk, the motifs bloom with particular warmth; on silver, they take on the quality of moonlit garden walls.
How to style
Wear the bittersweet or tomato version over a ivory silk kurta and narrow churidar for a winter wedding reception, anchored by gold jhumkas and block-heeled mojris. For festive evenings, layer the silver jacket atop a deep burgundy saree, letting the embroidery act as its own jewellery. For a contemporary reading, pair any colourway with straight-cut tailored trousers and pointed leather flats, keeping the neckline bare so the hand-worked florals across the shoulders carry the full visual weight of the look.
Fabric & care
Silk this finely woven and hand-embroidered requires consistent gentleness. Dry-clean only; do not attempt home washing, as water weakens the embroidery threads and disturbs the silk's natural sheen. Store flat or loosely rolled in a muslin cloth, never on a wire hanger, which distorts the shoulder seams over time. Keep away from direct sunlight, which fades the bittersweet and tomato tones irreversibly. Cedar blocks placed nearby discourage moths without the moisture risk that lavender sachets occasionally carry. Treated with care, this jacket will outlast many seasons.
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