An all-over paisley top, a plain dark brown bottom, a bordered dupatta.

Why this piece

• Genuinely hand block printed with carved wooden blocks - no screen printing


• The plain bottom means no print to match up at the seams when stitching


• Colour-fast, with no bleed on the first wash

Print and plain

The top length is printed all over in small off-white paisley on dark brown. The bottom is left plain in the same brown, and the dupatta sits between them - moderately printed, with a wide patterned panel at one end.

That combination is easier to wear than an all-over set and easier to stitch, because your tailor has no repeat to match across the salwar seams. It also means you can wear the plain bottom with other tops later.

Wearing it

Brown on brown is quietly expensive-looking and reads well at work, in an office where bright block prints feel loud. Gold or antique brass suits it far better than silver, and a plain off-white inner picks up the print. It is a strong choice as a gift for someone whose size you do not know, since the fabric is cut to fit later.

Earthy hand block prints are usually offered in cotton. On Katan silk the same print carries a sheen that lifts it out of everyday wear.

The set

• 
  Top: 2.5 m, 44 to 45 inches wide


• 
  Bottom: 2.5 m, 44 to 45 inches wide


• 
  Dupatta: 2.5 m, 35 to 36 inches wide


• 
  Fabric: Katan silk, hand block printed with hand-carved wooden blocks


• 
  Lining: not required, the fabric is opaque; add one only to elevate the look


• 
  Stitching: up to 4XL for straight kurta sets, with length customised for larger sizes


• 
  Weight: 600 to 650 g for top, bottom and dupatta together


• 
  Care: dry clean the first time, then a gentle cold hand wash


• 
  Dispatch: dispatched the next working day, even though every metre is printed by hand


• 
  Collection: Kairi
  

The off-white paisleys take the ink a little differently from one press to the next. That unevenness is the block, and it is what tells you this was printed by a person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the bottom printed or plain?

The bottom is plain dark brown. Only the top and the dupatta carry the paisley print, which also means there is no repeat for your tailor to match at the salwar seams.

How much fabric comes in the set?

Top 2.5 m and bottom 2.5 m at 44 to 45 inches wide, plus a dupatta 2.5 m at 35 to 36 inches. That is enough to stitch a straight kurta set up to 4XL, with length customised for larger sizes.

Will the off-white paisley stay clean-looking after washing?

The fabric is colour-fast and does not bleed on the first wash, so the brown will not run into the off-white. Dry clean once, then wash gently in cold water.

Is this genuinely hand block printed?

Every piece is stamped by hand with hand-carved wooden blocks. You can see it in the way the ink takes unevenly from one paisley to the next - a screen print never varies like that.

Can I return or exchange it if the brown is not right for me?

If the shade or the quality is not what you hoped for, an exchange is available - write to us and we will sort it out.