Peach and Golden Handloom Fabric from Banaras with Zari Weave
Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin pouch away from direct sunlight to keep the sheen alive.
Description
Pure Silk Handloom Brocade<br>Weaver Kasim Family of Banaras. Width - 23 inch / 58.4 cms
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Behind this piece
Banaras has woven silk for over a thousand years, and the Kasim family carries that continuity in their hands. This handloom brocade belongs to the tradition of Banarasi kimkhab, where real zari threads are interlocked into the silk foundation through the pit-loom technique, building pattern from below rather than printing from above. The peach ground is achieved through careful warp-setting before a single shuttle moves. The golden zari, drawn from fine metallic thread, catches light the way old temple lamps do: with warmth, not flash. Each metre is a counted labour, not a mechanical repeat.
How to style
Cut this fabric into a structured anarkali and pair it with antique jadau earrings for a wedding reception or a formal puja ceremony where restraint is the point. Alternatively, have it tailored as a sleeveless blouse for a cream or ivory Kanjeevaram saree, letting the zari work speak at the midriff. For a contemporary reading, a straight-cut kurta with churidar in this fabric, worn with kolhapuri sandals in tan leather, works beautifully at a festive mehendi or a curated cultural evening. Keep accessories in gold only; silver will compete unnecessarily with the zari's warmth.
Fabric & care
Pure silk brocade with real zari requires dry cleaning only. Water weakens the metallic zari threads and can cause the silk warp to shrink unevenly, distorting the woven pattern permanently. If a dry cleaner is unavailable, air the fabric gently in shade and store it flat or loosely rolled in a soft cotton muslin cloth. Never fold on the same crease repeatedly, as silk fibres break at persistent fold lines. Keep mothballs away from direct contact with the fabric. Store in a cool, dry space away from humidity. Handled with this care, Banarasi silk deepens in lustre across decades.
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