Long Kaftan with Printed Tiger-stripes and Dori at Waist
Gentle hand-wash separately in cold water with a mild detergent. Avoid soaking. Iron on medium heat while slightly damp.
Description
There is something unhurried about a kaftan, a garment that has always known how to make time slow down. This long kaftan is rendered in fluid viscose, a fabric that moves with the body rather than against it, catching light with a soft, almost liquid quality. The tiger-stripe print runs boldly across the length, graphic yet grounded, drawn in colours that range from the deep canopy of Amazon Green to the warm blaze of Amber Gold and the vivid clarity of Amparo Blue. A dori at the waist offers the rare option of structure or ease, to be cinched or left loose depending entirely on your mood. Free in size and generous in drape, it belongs equally to a slow afternoon at home and to a terrace gathering as evening settles in. Wear it with flat kolhapuris and a single strand of wooden beads to keep the mood unhurried. For cooler evenings, a fine cotton stole in a complementary neutral draws the look together without competing with the print.
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Behind this piece
The tiger, in Indian visual tradition, has always carried a dual meaning: raw power and sacred grace. Here, that symbolism is rendered in bold printed stripes across fluid viscose, a fabric whose soft drape recalls the languid ease of a Lucknowi summer afternoon. The kaftan silhouette itself carries echoes of the long, unstructured angarakhas worn across Rajputana courts, garments designed for both movement and majesty. The dori at the waist is a quiet nod to that heritage, cinching the form just so, allowing the wearer to define her own proportion within the pattern.
How to style
For a terrace dinner, wear the Amber Gold or Hibiscus Red colourway belted loosely and pair with flat Kolhapuri chappals and a single oxidised silver cuff. At a beach wedding, the Cyan Blue or Amazon Green reads as effortlessly festive alongside gold Peshwari sandals and long jhumkas. For everyday ease, the Magenta Pink or Amparo Blue worn unbelted over straight linen trousers creates a layered silhouette that works across a gallery opening or a long afternoon at a craft market. Keep accessories minimal; the stripe does its own talking.
Fabric & care
Viscose is a regenerated cellulose fibre and rewards gentle handling above all else. Hand wash in cold water with a mild, pH-neutral detergent, keeping agitation to a minimum to preserve the printed surface and prevent the fabric from losing its characteristic softness. Never wring. Roll the kaftan in a clean cotton towel to draw out excess moisture, then dry flat in the shade. Store folded rather than hung, as viscose can stretch under its own weight over time. A light steam from a distance, never direct contact, restores the drape between wears.
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