Potli Drawstring Bag with Dense Beadwork by Hand
Gentle hand-wash separately in cold water with a mild detergent. Avoid soaking. Iron on medium heat while slightly damp.
Description
Some celebrations ask to be carried in something as carefully wrought as the moment itself. This potli drawstring bag is covered in dense hand-applied beadwork, each bead placed with the kind of patience that belongs to craft traditions passed down through generations of artisans working in the embellishment workshops of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The satin base catches light with a quiet luminosity, offering the beadwork a surface that amplifies rather than competes. Available in a jubilant multicolour arrangement, a soft raspberry sorbet, and a deep tomato red, each colourway speaks to a different mood within the festive wardrobe. The drawstring silhouette is a form rooted in the Indian textile tradition, practical and ceremonial at once, as comfortable at a wedding reception as it is tucked into the hands of a guest at a mehendi or sangeet evening. Carry it alongside a heavily embroidered lehenga in a contrasting tone, or let it serve as the single point of ornamentation with a fluid silk sari kept deliberately simple. Either way, it insists on being noticed.
Complete your look
Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Dense hand beadwork on fabric carries a lineage that stretches across the courts of Mughal India, where embellished potlis held saffron, coin, and perfume in equal measure. The tradition of applying glass and seed beads by hand, stitch by stitch onto satin grounds, flourished in the workshops of Lucknow and later Surat, where artisans refined the craft into something almost architectural in its precision. Each bead is individually anchored, creating a surface that catches light at every angle. The satin beneath, luminous by nature, amplifies that effect, turning a small carried object into a considered statement of adornment.
How to style
Carry the Bright Gold or Prism Violet potli alongside a silk organza saree for a wedding reception; the beadwork reads beautifully against fluid drape. For a festive lehenga evening, choose Raspberry Sorbet or Tomato Red and anchor the look with uncut polki earrings. The Oyster White and Horizon Blue variants pair with pastel tissue anarkalis for daytime ceremonies, particularly when worn with block-heeled mojris in complementary tones. Jet Black travels effortlessly from a formal cocktail sari to a velvet blouse and cigarette trousers, making it the most versatile choice across seasons and occasions.
Fabric & care
Satin's woven sheen is sensitive to friction and moisture, so surface cleaning with a barely damp muslin cloth is strongly advised over any immersion washing. Should gentle hand-washing become necessary, use cool water and a mild fabric cleanser, and avoid wringing entirely. Lay flat on a clean towel to dry, away from direct sunlight, which causes satin to yellow over time. Store the potli inside a soft cotton drawstring pouch to protect the beadwork from snagging against other accessories. Avoid contact with perfume and hairspray, both of which degrade satin's surface and loosen bead threads gradually.
More from bags accessories
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.
