Tiny pink and ivory butas repeat across a deep forest green.

Why this piece

• A matte, deep green base - unusual on printed silk, and far easier to wear than a bright one.


• Colour-fast, so the pink butas keep their edge against the dark ground.


• Patterned panels sit at one end of the length, ready to place as a border.

The buta

The buta is the small upright floral form that carries most Indian block printing, and here it is kept deliberately tiny and evenly spaced. Against a green this deep, the pink and ivory read almost like fine embroidery from a distance, which is what gives the set its weight beyond its price.

Wearing it

Dark green takes evening light beautifully, so this one moves from an office day to a festive dinner without changing anything but the jewellery - gold for evening, oxidised silver for day. The patterned panels at one end are best placed as a hem or yoke rather than cut through. Genuine hand block work on katan silk is a combination the market largely leaves to cotton. Block printed by hand, and still dispatched the next working day.

The details

• 
  Top: 2.5 m, 44-45 inches wide


• 
  Bottom: 2.5 m, 44-45 inches wide


• 
  Dupatta: 2.5 m, 35-36 inches wide


• 
  Fabric: Katan silk, opaque, no lining needed


• 
  Craft: hand block print, Bhagalpur


• 
  Weight: 600-650 g for all three pieces together


• 
  Stitching: up to 4XL, length customisable


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


• 
  Collection: Phuhaar
  

On a dark ground the small irregularities show most clearly - a buta slightly fuller here, slightly finer there. That is the hand, not a fault.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this print genuinely hand block done?

Yes. Every buta is pressed with a hand-carved wooden block, one impression at a time. On a dark ground the evidence is easy to see - motifs vary slightly in fullness and spacing, which no screen or machine print does.

Will the pale motifs fade or bleed when washed?

No. The fabric is colour-fast and does not bleed on the first wash. Dry clean it the first time, then wash gently in cold water and dry in shade.

What should be done with the patterned panels at the end?

Place them rather than cut through them. Most tailors use those panels as a kurta hem or yoke so they read as a deliberate border on the finished garment.

Can this be tailored for a fuller silhouette?

Yes. Each piece is 2.5 metres, with the top and bottom 44-45 inches wide, enough for a straight kurta set up to 4XL, and the length can be customised.

What if the shade is not what I expected?

Screens vary, so a shade can look a little different in person. If the colour or the quality is not what you hoped for, you can exchange it.