Jet-Black Brocade Fabric from Banaras with Hand-woven Lotuses
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. Width - 23 inch / 58.4 cms
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Behind this piece
Banaras has woven silk for over a thousand years, and the Kasim family carries that lineage in every shuttle pass. This jet-black brocade belongs to the tradition of Katan silk weaving, where pure silk threads are twisted and woven on pit looms along the narrow lanes of Varanasi. The lotus motif, rendered here in raised mekalaa work, is not decorative whimsy; it is a deliberate invocation of classical iconography woven into the cloth's very structure. Black brocade of this density is rarely attempted, because the dyeing and weaving demand precision that only inherited knowledge affords.
How to style
Cut this fabric into a structured anarkali and wear it to a winter wedding, pairing it with uncut diamond jhumkas and kolhapuri heels in cognac leather. For a more restrained occasion, consider a straight-cut kurta with a silk organza dupatta in ivory; the contrast will make the lotus motifs read like ink on parchment. A blouse cut from this fabric, worn beneath a cream or deep burgundy Banarasi saree, will anchor the entire drape with quiet authority. Avoid heavy embroidery in the pairing; the brocade speaks best when given room.
Fabric & care
Pure silk brocade must never meet a washing machine. Hand-wash in cold water using a pH-neutral soap, or dry-clean if the garment is constructed with interfacing. Do not wring; press gently between two dry cotton towels to absorb moisture. Dry flat and away from direct sunlight, which fades black silk irreversibly over time. Iron on the reverse side using a low silk setting, placing a cotton press cloth between iron and fabric to protect the raised brocade. Store folded in unbleached muslin, not plastic, to allow the silk to breathe between wearings.
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