Madder-Brown Pure Wool Stole with Aari Hand Embroidered Pair of Peacock and Star Shaped Floral Leaf from Kashmir
Dry clean recommended. Store with natural cedar or neem leaves. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture.
Description
Madder root has been colouring Kashmir's wools for centuries, and this stole carries that lineage in every thread. Woven from pure wool in a deep, earthy madder-brown, the ground cloth holds the warmth and quiet authority that Kashmiri wool has always promised. Across its surface, Aari needle-work traces a pair of peacocks in full plume, their forms encircled by star-shaped florals and scrolling leaves rendered with the measured precision that distinguishes this tradition from the valley. Aari embroidery, worked with a hooked needle that pulls thread from below the fabric, creates lines of exceptional fineness; the stitches here follow the organic curves of the birds and blooms without a single hurried gesture. The result is a piece that sits equally well within a winter wardrobe and a festive trousseau, speaking to occasions that call for considered beauty rather than spectacle. Drape it over a cream or ivory kurta to let the madder tones settle warmly against pale cloth, or fold it across the shoulders of a formal ensemble where its handworked surface becomes the single, sufficient ornament.
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Behind this piece
Aari embroidery takes its name from the hooked needle, a fine implement that Kashmiri craftsmen have wielded for centuries across the interiors of Srinagar and the villages of the Valley. Here, the technique traces a pair of peacocks in madder-brown wool, the birds flanked by star-shaped floral and leaf motifs that echo the garden imagery of Mughal textile tradition. Madder, one of the oldest natural dye sources known to Indian weavers, lends this pure wool stole its warm, earthy depth. Each hooked stitch is placed by hand, building the composition slowly from a single continuous thread.
How to style
Drape this stole loosely over an ivory or cream Lucknowi kurta set for a winter afternoon at a literary festival or cultural mehfil; the madder tones will warm the ensemble without competing for attention. For diaspora occasions, layer it over a tailored camel-coloured coat and pair with tan juttis or block-heeled leather boots. On a simpler day, fold it into a wide wrap over a chocolate or burgundy salwar and finish with oxidised silver earrings, allowing the peacock motif to sit visible near the shoulder. The stole is generous enough to carry any of these looks with ease.
Fabric & care
Pure wool is a living fibre that rewards gentle attention. Hand wash this stole in cold water using a mild, pH-neutral soap and never wring or twist it; instead, press the water out by rolling the stole in a clean dry towel. Reshape it flat and dry away from direct sunlight, which can fade the natural madder tones over time. Store folded, not hung, to prevent the fibre from stretching at the shoulders. Place a cedar block or dried neem leaves nearby to deter moths. Handled with this care, the wool will soften and improve beautifully with each passing season.
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