Long Jacket from Kashmir with Aari Embroidery All-Over
Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin pouch away from direct sunlight to keep the sheen alive.
Description
From the high valleys of Kashmir, where winter light falls slow and deliberate, comes a jacket stitched with the patience of centuries. Aari embroidery, worked with a fine hooked needle, traces its intricate florals and paisleys across every inch of the surface, a tradition that Kashmiri craftsmen have refined across generations of continuous practice. The base cloth here is art silk, smooth and subtly lustrous, lending the embroidery a richness that catches the eye without demanding it. Two considered colourways, a deep Caviar and a warm Gingerbread, speak to the Kashmiri sensibility for colour that is both grounded and alive. The all-over embroidery coverage makes this piece genuinely exceptional, suited to festive gatherings, literary evenings, or any occasion that calls for quiet distinction. Wear it over a fine ivory kurta or a silk slip dress, allowing the embroidery to carry the conversation. A pair of block-printed palazzos or straight-cut cigarette trousers completes the look with unhurried elegance.
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Behind this piece
Aari embroidery takes its name from the hooked needle, the aari, that Kashmiri craftsmen have wielded for centuries across the valley's workshops and home ateliers. Distinct from the chain-stitch traditions of Lucknow, Kashmiri aari work builds dense, curling motifs from a single continuous thread pulled through fabric from below, creating a raised, almost sculptural surface. Here, the technique covers the entire jacket in fluid repeat, a choice that signals the highest tier of the craft. Art silk catches the light differently at each angle, giving the embroidery an inner luminosity that wool and cotton cannot replicate.
How to style
In Caviar, pair this jacket over a slim ivory churidar and block-heeled juttis for a winter wedding reception. Layer it above a silk kurta in burnt amber for Diwali gatherings, finishing with oxidised silver chandbaalis that echo the curved aari motifs. In Gingerbread, wear it open over straight-cut cream trousers and tan kolhapuris for a cultural festival or literary afternoon. A single gold kada on each wrist keeps the focus on the embroidery. Both colourways welcome a fine pashmina stole draped across one shoulder for cooler evenings without competing with the surface work.
Fabric & care
Art silk is delicate and should never be machine-washed. Hand-wash in cold water with a mild, pH-neutral detergent, submerging briefly without wringing or twisting. Rinse once in cool water and press gently between two clean cotton towels to remove moisture. Dry flat, away from direct sunlight, which strips colour from dyed silk fibres over time. Do not iron the embroidered surface directly; instead, steam lightly from a distance of several centimetres with the jacket turned inside out. Store folded in a breathable muslin bag, away from synthetic materials, to preserve both fibre integrity and the aari thread's lustre.
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