Teal and off-white sprigs repeat across a clear, bright red.

Why this piece

• Teal is the contrast that keeps this red modern rather than traditional.


• Colour-fast, so the off-white sprigs do not pink over in the first wash.


• Angular geometric bands close the length, giving the kurta a ready-made hem.

The print

The sprig motif is geometric rather than naturalistic - small, angular and repeated tightly - which is why the set reads crisp instead of pretty. A band of the same angular shapes finishes the ends.

Wearing it

Red carries every occasion from a puja to a day wedding, and the teal makes it work for the office too if the bottom is kept plain. Gold jewellery for evening, silver with the teal for daytime. Genuine hand block printing on katan silk from Bhagalpur sits in a gap most sellers leave open - the craft is usually offered on cotton alone. 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
  

Angular motifs make the hand obvious - a corner slightly softer here, a line a shade heavier there. That is the block, pressed by a person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the print done by hand or by machine?

By hand. Each sprig is pressed with a hand-carved wooden block, and on an angular motif like this the evidence is clear - corners and lines vary slightly from one impression to the next, which a machine print never does.

Will the red run in the wash?

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

What size can it be stitched to?

Up to 4XL for a straight kurta set. Each piece is 2.5 metres long, the top and bottom 44-45 inches wide and the dupatta 35-36 inches, and the length can be customised.

Is a lining needed under the kurta?

No. The silk is opaque, so a lining or aster is not required. It is optional if you want a heavier fall.

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.