Skyway and Cordovan Reversible Waistcoat from Pilkhuwa with Printed Trees
Machine or hand-wash cold, inside out. Air-dry in shade. Iron on medium heat. Wash with similar colours the first time.
Description
Two colours live in one garment, turning and returning like a season caught mid-breath. This reversible waistcoat is woven in Pilkhuwa, a town in Uttar Pradesh long celebrated for its block-printed and hand-processed cottons, where the textile tradition moves quietly between generations of artisan families. One side carries the calm of skyway blue; the other settles into the deep, earthy richness of cordovan, a shade borrowed from old leather and autumn soil. Printed trees travel across the surface in the unhurried manner of folk motifs, rooted in the same visual grammar that has decorated Indian domestic textiles for centuries. The fabric is pure cotton, breathable and undemanding, equally at ease under a October afternoon sun or a winter evening indoors. At this price, it asks very little and offers the rare pleasure of two distinct moods within a single, considered piece. Wear the skyway side over a fine white kurta for a crisp, gallery-ready afternoon look; flip to cordovan come evening, layered over a silk blouse, and the whole register shifts to something quieter and more formal.
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Behind this piece
Pilkhuwa, a quieter town in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh, has long been the backbone of India's cotton printing industry. Its artisans specialise in block and screen printing on pure cotton cloth, producing textiles that supply homes, bazaars, and export markets alike. This reversible waistcoat draws on that tradition, presenting a printed tree motif on one face and a rich cordovan ground on the other. The two-in-one construction is a thoughtful design choice, honouring the Pilkhuwa printer's skill in achieving clarity and depth of colour on a breathable, handworked surface.
How to style
Wear the skyway side outward over a white cotton kurta with straight-cut off-white trousers for a relaxed Sunday lunch. Flip to cordovan for an evening gathering, layering it over a fine cream silk shirt with tailored churidar and tan juttis. For diaspora dressing at a festive occasion abroad, pair the cordovan face with wide-leg linen trousers and a strand of wooden or terracotta beads. Both orientations accept a simple cotton stole thrown across one shoulder. Let the waistcoat carry the statement; keep everything else understated and unhurried in its simplicity.
Fabric & care
Pure cotton from Pilkhuwa is durable but benefits from gentle handling to preserve its printed surface. Wash separately in cold water on a delicate machine cycle or by hand, using a mild, colour-safe detergent. Avoid soaking for extended periods, as this may lift the print. Dry flat in shade, away from direct sunlight, which causes fading over time. Iron on a medium cotton setting while slightly damp, on the reverse side, to protect the motif. Store folded in a cool, dry drawer rather than on a hanger to prevent the shoulders from distorting over seasons.
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