Plain Stole from Kashmir with Aari Hand-Embroidered Paiselys on Border
Dry clean recommended. Store with natural cedar or neem leaves. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture.
Description
There is a quietness to this stole that speaks before words do. Woven from pure wool in the high valleys of Kashmir, it carries the warmth that only altitude and patience can produce. Along its border, Aari needlework traces paisleys in the slow, hooked stitch that Kashmiri craftsmen have practised across generations, each motif pulled thread by thread into being. The paisley, known locally as the boteh, has been a symbol of abundance in Kashmiri textile traditions for centuries, and here it sits with pleasing restraint against the plain ground of the stole. Available in jet black and orange tint, both colourways allow the embroidered border to read clearly, uncluttered and considered. This is a piece suited equally to a winter wedding, a literary evening, or a long flight home. Drape it loosely over a handloom kurta in ivory or deep indigo and let the embroidered hem fall at the wrist. For cooler evenings, wrap it close at the shoulders and let the border frame the neckline like a quietly stated signature.
Complete your look
Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Aari embroidery takes its name from the hooked needle, the aari, that Kashmiri artisans have wielded for centuries across the valleys of Srinagar and Anantnag. The paisley, called boteh in Persian, arrived in Kashmir through centuries of trade and courtly patronage, and it never left. Here it travels along the border of pure wool in restrained rows, worked by hand stitch by stitch, each curve a small commitment of time. The jet black ground deepens every thread; the orange tint version holds the warmth of autumn chinars. Neither colourway asks for attention. Both command it quietly.
How to style
Drape the jet black stole over an ivory Lucknowi kurta and straight trousers for a literary festival or gallery opening, anchoring the look with oxidised silver jhumkas and kolhapuri flats. The orange tint version pairs beautifully with a deep teal silk saree for a winter wedding, looped loosely at the shoulder. For everyday wear, fold it lengthwise over a camel-coloured wool coat, letting the embroidered border sit along the front edge like a deliberate trim. A single stone ring and leather oxfords complete the picture without crowding it.
Fabric & care
Pure wool breathes and softens with age, but it rewards careful handling. Hand wash in cold water with a gentle, pH-neutral wool wash; never wring or twist the fabric. Press the water out gently and dry flat on a clean towel away from direct sunlight, which fades both the ground colour and the embroidery threads over time. Steam lightly if needed; avoid a hot iron directly on the aari work. Store folded, not hung, wrapped in muslin or acid-free tissue inside a dry drawer. Cedar blocks deter moths without the harshness of mothballs.
More from shawls scarves
Sale
Sale
Sale
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.
