Olive green under a white vine-and-paisley print, chevrons at the hem.

Why this piece

• Genuinely hand block printed with hand-carved wooden blocks in Bhagalpur


• The top is printed densely and the dupatta more openly, so they layer well


• Opaque and unlined, stitchable up to 4XL with customised length

Vines and chevrons

A white vine winds through medium-scale paisley across an olive green ground, with yellow and terracotta warming the print where it opens up. The top length is printed densely; the dupatta is left more open, so wearing them together does not overwhelm.

At the hem, a solid horizontal band carries a repeating chevron, which gives a plain straight kurta a defined edge with no work from your tailor.

Wearing it

Olive with white is the most wearable version of a bold print - it holds up in an office, at a festive lunch and at a day function. Terracotta or wooden jewellery picks up the accents; gold works too. Have the chevron band placed at the hem rather than cut across.

Vine-and-paisley work in two scales, printed by hand on silk, is unusual at this price - the combination is normally found on cotton or on much costlier woven sets.

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 vine does not join perfectly from one repeat to the next. That break is where one block ended and the next began, by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the top and the dupatta printed the same way?

Not quite. The top is printed densely with the vine and paisley, while the dupatta is left more open, so the two layer together without looking overloaded.

Will the white vine discolour or the olive bleed in the wash?

The fabric is colour-fast and does not bleed on the first wash. Dry clean the set the first time, then wash gently in cold water.

How do I know it is hand block printed and not machine printed?

Follow the vine along the fabric - it breaks very slightly where one block ended and the next began. A machine print would carry it perfectly every time.

What does the set include?

Three unstitched pieces: top 2.5 m, bottom 2.5 m and dupatta 2.5 m, which can be stitched to your fit up to 4XL for straight kurta sets.

What if the olive shade is not what I want?

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.