Poncho from Kashmir with Aari Hand-Embroidered Paisley And Flower Pattern on Neck
Dry clean recommended. Store with natural cedar or neem leaves. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture.
Description
A garment that carries the patience of a craftsman's needle in every curve. Woven from pure wool in the high-altitude workshops of Kashmir, this poncho draws its warmth from both fibre and tradition. The neck is hand-embroidered using the aari technique, a practice indigenous to the Kashmir Valley in which a fine hooked needle pulls thread into dense, flowing motifs of paisley and flower. This method, passed down through generations of Kashmiri karigar families, demands precision that no machine can replicate. The result is embroidery that sits with a quiet authority on the fabric, neither overwrought nor understated. Available in seven considered colourways, from the soft warmth of Apricot Ice to the depth of Black and the vitality of Parrot, each piece is made to order and therefore cut and embroidered specifically for you. Wear it over a simple kurta for a winter gathering, or layer it above a merino turtleneck for a more contemporary pairing. The 46-inch square drape accommodates varied body proportions generously and gracefully.
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Behind this piece
The Kashmir Valley has carried the art of Aari embroidery for centuries, its needle tracing the beloved paisley, or keri, across wool and silk with an almost meditative precision. Worked on a wooden frame called the karkhana, Aari uses a hooked awl to pull thread into the base fabric from beneath, creating dense, jewel-like floral clusters that sit proud of the surface. On this pure wool poncho, that same vocabulary of buta and bloom blooms along the neckline, a deliberate restraint that speaks the language of Kashmiri craft without needing to announce itself.
How to style
In the Apricot Ice colourway, layer this poncho over a cream Lucknowi chikankari kurta and straight-leg ivory trousers for an autumn gathering. For winter evenings, the Black or Gray versions wear beautifully over a fitted turtleneck with wide-leg wool trousers and kolhapuri block-heeled sandals. Those drawn to the Parrot or Red colourways might pair them with a plain silk salwar set and a single strand of oxidised silver, letting the Aari-worked neckline read as the sole ornament. The poncho silhouette suits festive lunches, winter weddings, and cultural evenings alike.
Fabric & care
Pure Kashmiri wool is resilient but rewards gentle handling. Hand wash in cold water with a pH-neutral wool wash, pressing the garment rather than wringing it, and rinse until the water runs completely clear. Dry flat on a clean towel, away from direct sunlight, to preserve both the fibre and the Aari thread work at the neckline. Store folded, never hung, wrapped in muslin or breathable cotton to discourage moths. A cedar block placed nearby is preferable to chemical repellents. Treated with this care, the wool will soften beautifully with each season.
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