Multi-Color Long Batik Printed Kaftan with Dori at Waist
Gentle hand-wash separately in cold water with a mild detergent. Avoid soaking. Iron on medium heat while slightly damp.
Description
Colour pools like ink dropped into water, spreading outward in patterns that seem to breathe. Batik is one of the oldest resist-dyeing traditions on the subcontinent, practised across coastal and central India with a quiet, unhurried discipline. Here, the technique is applied to fluid viscose, a fabric that catches light softly and drapes with the easy movement of a warm afternoon. The multi-colour field, available in Black and Red or Blue and Pink, carries the characteristic bloom and bleed of hand-applied wax resist, where no two lengths are ever entirely alike. A gathered dori at the waist allows the silhouette to shift between relaxed and shaped, suiting a range of moods and bodies within a single free-size cut. The kaftan form itself belongs to a long tradition of roomy, generous dressing that prioritises comfort without sacrificing beauty. Wear it over wide linen trousers on a languid evening, or let it stand alone as a dress with flat Kolhapuri sandals. A single oxidised silver cuff is all the jewellery this piece requires.
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Behind this piece
Batik is one of the oldest resist-dyeing traditions in the world, carried through centuries across Java and later woven into the textile vocabulary of Indian artisans, particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The craft involves applying wax to fabric in deliberate patterns, then submerging the cloth in dye baths so colour settles only where the wax does not protect. Each pull of colour, each crackled vein left by cooling wax, is unrepeatable. On viscose, the dye sinks with particular depth, giving this kaftan its luminous, saturated hues and that characteristic organic irregularity that no digital print can replicate.
How to style
Wear the Black and Red colourway over straight-cut ivory cotton trousers for a terrace dinner, cinching the dori loosely at the waist. The Blue and Pink variant pairs beautifully with wide-leg palazzo pants in solid ivory or nude for a daytime gathering or art-fair visit. Both colourways welcome oxidised silver jewellery, particularly long Rajasthani pendant necklaces or tribal chokers. For footwear, consider Kolhapuri chappals in tan leather or block-heeled mojris. The kaftan's length flatters when allowed to move freely, so resist anything too structured underneath.
Fabric & care
Viscose is a semi-synthetic fibre that behaves generously in wear but demands respect in care. Hand wash in cold water using a mild, pH-neutral detergent; never wring or twist the fabric, as the fibres weaken considerably when wet. Lay the kaftan flat on a clean towel to dry away from direct sunlight, which can fade batik dyes over time. Do not tumble dry. Iron on a low setting while still slightly damp, using a pressing cloth between the iron and the printed surface. Store folded loosely in a breathable cotton bag, away from humidity.
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