Kashmiri Black Silk Phiran with Paisley Red Aari Embroidery
Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin pouch away from direct sunlight to keep the sheen alive.
Description
Silk. Shoulder 17 inch, Bust 40 inch, Sleeve Length 21.5 inch, length 42 inch
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Behind this piece
The phiran is Kashmir's oldest garment, worn across centuries by both men and women through the valley's severe winters. This iteration arrives in black silk, a ground that deepens the impact of aari embroidery worked in red, a colour long associated with celebration and bridal trousseau in Kashmiri households. Aari work, named for the fine hooked needle used by artisans across Srinagar and Baramulla, traces its finest motifs in the paisley, or keri, a form so integral to Kashmiri visual culture that it became the world's shorthand for the valley itself.
How to style
Wear it over ivory or cream churidar pyjamas for a Kashmiri evening gathering, grounding the embroidery without competing with it. For a contemporary register, layer it over straight-cut raw silk trousers in deep ivory and add kolhapuri block-heeled sandals. For a festive occasion, pair with a fine wool or pashmina dupatta in blush or gold, silver jhumkas from the Kutchi silversmith tradition, and pointed khussa. The black ground makes this phiran unusually versatile, reading as ceremonial or elevated-casual depending entirely on what accompanies it below.
Fabric & care
Silk is a protein fibre and requires handling with patience. Hand-wash in cool water using a pH-neutral or silk-specific detergent, never wringing or twisting the fabric. The aari embroidery, worked in thread on a delicate silk ground, must not be scrubbed. Roll gently in a clean cotton towel to remove excess water and dry flat in shade. Store folded in soft cotton muslin, away from direct light and humidity, which can weaken silk over time. Cedar blocks deter moths without the chemical residue that mothballs leave on fine fibres.
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