Phlox-Purple Fabric from Banaras with Woven Bootis All-Over
Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin pouch away from direct sunlight to keep the sheen alive.
Complete your look
Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Banaras has been weaving silk into ceremony for over five centuries, and this phlox-purple georgette carries that lineage in every thread. The fabric belongs to the kataan-georgette tradition, where pure silk yarns are twisted under high tension before weaving, producing the characteristic weight and drape that distinguishes Banarasi silk from its imitators. The all-over buti pattern, scattered at even intervals across the field, follows a compositional grammar rooted in Mughal garden motifs. Each buti is woven directly into the structure, not printed or embroidered, making this cloth as honest in construction as it is luminous in colour.
How to style
Cut this into an unlined kurta with a silk slip beneath and wear it to an intimate evening gathering with oxidised silver jhumkas from Rajasthan. Alternatively, commission a flared anarkali with a net dupatta in ivory; the phlox-purple will anchor the look without overwhelming it. For a contemporary register, drape it as a sari over a sleeveless blouse in champagne silk and pair with block-heeled kolhapuris in tan leather. In each reading, the woven bootis catch light at different angles, rewarding close attention. Reserve gold temple jewellery for festive occasions when the colour deserves full ceremony.
Fabric & care
Pure silk georgette is a living fibre and responds poorly to carelessness. Dry-clean for the first wash to preserve the twist tension in the yarn. If hand-washing subsequently, use cold water with a pH-neutral silk wash, never wring or rub. Roll the fabric gently in a clean cotton towel to remove moisture, then dry flat in shade away from direct sunlight, which fades silk irreversibly. Store folded in a muslin cloth, not polythene, to allow the fibre to breathe. Refold along different lines every few months to prevent permanent crease marks along the same edges.
Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to share your thoughts.
From the Journal
Stories about the craft, the loom, and the wearing of a piece like this one.
