Stole from Kashmir with Aari Hand-Embroidered Sunflowers
Dry clean recommended. Store with natural cedar or neem leaves. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture.
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Behind this piece
Aari embroidery takes its name from the hooked needle, the aari, that Kashmiri craftsmen have wielded for centuries across the valley's embroidery workshops, known locally as karkhanas. Here, that needle has traced sunflowers across pure wool in an act that is equal parts botanical study and devotion. The sunflower motif, bold and symmetrical, suits the aari's characteristic chain stitch beautifully, each petal built loop by careful loop. Against the deep blacks and the quiet cream of Vanilla Ice, the blooms carry the particular luminosity that only hand-guided thread on fine Kashmiri wool can produce.
How to style
Wear the black colourways over a charcoal silk kurta and straight palazzo for an evening of quiet authority, grounded with kolhapuri block-heeled sandals. For the diaspora wardrobe, drape Vanilla Ice loosely over a cream linen shirt dress and carry a structured jute tote; the contrast lets the embroidery speak without competition. At a winter wedding, knot Caviar Black at the shoulder over a velvet blouse and sharara, and finish with silver jhumkas whose oxidised finish echoes the hand-stitched texture. All three readings share one logic: restraint in the base, generosity in the craft.
Fabric & care
Pure wool breathes and remembers; it also forgives, provided you are gentle. Hand wash this stole in cool water with a mild, pH-neutral detergent, working the fabric without wringing or twisting. Press out excess water by rolling it within a clean cotton towel. Dry flat in shade, never on a hanger, so the wool holds its shape. Store folded in muslin, not polythene, and tuck in a cedar block to discourage moths. With this small discipline, the aari embroidery and the wool ground will remain vivid and supple for many years of wearing.
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