Wool Long Jacket with All-Over Aari Embroidered Paisleys Butta and Side Pockets
Dry clean recommended. Store with natural cedar or neem leaves. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture.
Description
Some garments do not merely keep you warm; they carry the memory of hands that have worked through winter light to bring a pattern to life. This long jacket is worked in wool, its surface covered in the rhythmic repeat of paisley buttas rendered through Aari embroidery, a needle-and-hook craft practised with quiet discipline across the Kashmir Valley and its neighbouring hill regions. The Aari technique draws thread through fabric in a continuous chain, building up floral and curved motifs with a density that catches light gently without ever appearing excessive. Available in Snow White and Pale Khaki, both tones allow the ivory and natural-hued threadwork to read clearly against the ground, giving the embroidery its full due. Side pockets add an unhurried practicality to the silhouette, and the longline cut lends itself to layering across the cooler months of the year. This is a jacket suited equally to a winter wedding in the hills and a considered weekend in the city. Wear it over a fine cotton kurta in a complementary tone, or let it fall over straight-cut trousers for an outfit that needs no further ornament.
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Behind this piece
Aari embroidery takes its name from the hooked needle, the aari, which craftsmen in Kashmir have wielded for centuries to coax intricate designs from wool and pashmina grounds. The paisley butta motif carries a lineage reaching back to Mughal court textiles, where the curved teardrop form symbolised abundance and the flowing Jhelum. Here, each butta is worked across a warm wool ground, the hooked thread pulled with a tension that only years of practice make instinctive. In snow white or pale khaki, the all-over repeat achieves something rare: ornament that feels like quiet, not noise.
How to style
Wear the pale khaki jacket belted loosely over a cream silk kurta and straight-cut ivory palazzos for a winter lunch that needs no further statement. For an evening gathering, layer the snow white over a deep teal or bottle-green anarkali, and finish with oxidised silver jhumkas and block-heeled kolhapuris. On a cooler travel day, pair either colourway with dark straight-leg jeans, a fine merino turtleneck, and tan leather loafers. The side pockets allow you to leave the bag at home when the occasion permits.
Fabric & care
Wool breathes but does not forgive neglect. Hand wash in cold water using a mild, pH-neutral detergent, and never wring or twist the fabric. Support the full weight of the jacket when lifting it wet. Lay flat on a clean cotton towel to dry away from direct sunlight, which yellows pale wools over time. Store folded, never hung, to prevent shoulder distortion. Place cedar blocks nearby to deter moths. With this routine, the wool retains its body and the Aari embroidery its crispness across many seasons of wear.
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