Turqoise Silk Long Jacket with Detailed Floral and Paisley Red Aari Embroidery From Kashmir
Dry clean only. Store folded in a soft muslin pouch away from direct sunlight to keep the sheen alive.
Description
Silk. SHOULDER 17 INCH, BUST 40 INCH, SLEEVE LENGTH 22 INCH, LENGTH 42 INCH
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Hand-picked pieces that sing gently with this one.
Behind this piece
Aari embroidery takes its name from the hooked needle, the aari, that Kashmiri artisans have wielded for centuries across the Vale. Distinct from the counted-thread precision of sozni, aari work is drawn freehand onto the fabric, each floral and paisley motif flowing from the craftsman's instinct and memory. This turquoise silk jacket carries that living tradition: the deep red thread traces chinar-inspired blooms and the buta, Kashmir's beloved paisley, across a ground that shifts with the light. The jacket is not ornamented. It is narrated, stitch by careful stitch, in a dialect spoken only in that valley.
How to style
Wear the jacket over narrow ivory silk palazzo trousers and flat Kolhapuri sandals for a summer arts festival. For an evening wedding reception, layer it over a fitted black kurta, cinch the silhouette loosely with an antique silver kamarbandh, and add oxidised jhumkas that echo the red embroidery. A third reading: pair it with deep teal straight-fit trousers and pointed-toe block heels for a formal lunch, keeping jewellery spare, perhaps a single kundan ring. In every iteration, let the embroidery hold the eye and resist the temptation to compete with it.
Fabric & care
Silk is a protein fibre that demands quietness in its care. Hand wash in cold water with a pH-neutral or silk-specific detergent, never wringing or twisting the cloth. Rinse once, gently press water out between two clean towels, and dry flat in shade. Direct sunlight will lift the turquoise over time. Store folded in a muslin or cotton bag, never polythene, with a neem sachet to deter insects. Press on the reverse side only, using a cool iron with a pressing cloth between iron and embroidery to protect the aari threadwork.
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