Small red paisleys scatter over olive green, then a wide border shuts the hem.

Why this piece

• Genuinely hand block printed - stamped with carved wooden blocks, not screened


• The wide geometric hem band is printed in, so the kurta needs no added border


• Opaque and unlined, and light at 600 to 650 g for all three pieces

The border

Most of this set is quiet: a matte olive green ground, small red paisleys spaced evenly, black outlines holding them in shape and a little mustard yellow warming the whole thing.

Then the hem arrives and changes the register - a wide decorative band of geometric and linear work that gives a plain straight kurta a finished edge without any additional lace or piping from your tailor. Ask them to keep the band whole at the hem rather than cutting through it.

Wearing it

Olive with red is a working woman's combination: sober enough for an office, warm enough for a family evening. It flatters warm and deep skin tones especially well. Pair it with brass or antique gold and flat leather juttis.

A wide printed border on silk usually belongs to woven and far more expensive suit sets. Here it is block printed by hand, which is what keeps this piece affordable.

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 red sits a fraction outside the black outline in places. That is register variation, and it is the mark of a block placed by hand rather than a machine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the red paisley run into the olive green when washed?

The fabric is colour-fast and does not bleed on the first wash, which is the usual worry with a red print on a light ground. Dry clean it once, then gentle cold hand washing is fine.

Is the wide border printed on or stitched separately?

It is printed straight onto the fabric with its own carved block, so there is nothing to come loose. Ask your tailor to keep the band intact at the hem when cutting.

How do I know the print is genuinely hand block?

Hand block printing leaves small register shifts - the red slipping a hair outside its black outline, the repeat spacing varying slightly down the length. A screen print repeats exactly every time and never does this.

What are the fabric lengths and widths?

Top 2.5 m and bottom 2.5 m, both 44 to 45 inches wide, and a dupatta 2.5 m at 35 to 36 inches. It can be stitched up to 4XL for straight kurta sets.

Can I exchange it if the olive shade looks different in person?

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.