The Flowers of Tibet
Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin pouch away from direct sunlight to keep the sheen alive.
Description
Pure Silk Handloom Brocade<br>Artist: Kasim Family of Varanasi. 28 Inches Wide
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Behind this piece
Varanasi's brocade tradition stretches back through centuries of Mughal patronage, but its deepest influences travel further still, along the old silk routes that once connected the Gangetic plains to the high plateaux of Central Asia and Tibet. The Kasim family works within this inheritance, drawing floral motifs that carry the memory of Tibetan thangka painting and Himalayan textile art into the warp and weft of pure silk. Each passage of zari and coloured silk thread is laid by hand on a pit loom, a process that cannot be hurried, and should not be.
How to style
Wear this as a saree draped in the Nivi style for a winter wedding, paired with a full-sleeved raw silk blouse in ivory or deep ochre. For a Tibetan or Buddhist cultural occasion, let the floral panels fall at the pallu with minimal ornamentation. Complement it with antique silver jewellery, preferably Himachali or Tibetan repousse work, and pointed juttis in a tonal shade. For a smaller gathering, stitch the fabric into a structured anarkali jacket over wide palazzo trousers, keeping accessories quiet so the weave speaks first.
Fabric & care
Pure silk brocade is a living textile and asks for corresponding attention. Dry-clean only; do not immerse in water, as the zari threads can oxidise and the silk weft may bleed or lose its lustre. If airing is needed, hang briefly in filtered shade, never direct sunlight. Store folded in a single layer of soft muslin, away from synthetic materials. Refold along different lines every few months to prevent permanent crease marks. A cedar block placed nearby discourages insects without the chemical residue that mothballs leave on fine silk fibres.
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