Ajrakh Hand Block Printed Tussar Silk kurta fabric with dupatta: Charcoal grey ground with ecru

Some prints are made; Ajrakh is layered. Each motif on this set is pressed by hand with carved wooden blocks, resisted, dyed and washed again and again until the geometry settles into the cloth. On tussar, with its soft natural sheen and gently uneven texture, the old Kutch patterns catch the light the way lamplight falls on stone.

The kurta fabric carries a classic all-over Ajrakh jaal: star-shaped medallions, square florets and tiny buds in ecru, indigo and rust on a deep charcoal ground. The dupatta is the showpiece. A striped field of indigo dots and rust lines opens into wide floral borders with twining vines and paisley-leaf pallus, framed by a plain charcoal tussar edge and finished with hand-knotted tassels. The bottom fabric matches the kurta jaal, so the set looks complete once tailored.

Understated enough for a working day, rich enough for a festive evening, this is a set that is meant to be worn for years.

Details

• Craft: Ajrakh hand block print
• Fabric: Tussar silk
• Set includes: kurta fabric, bottom fabric, dupatta with tasselled ends
• Colours: charcoal black ground with ecru, indigo and rust motifs
• Kurta: all-over geometric jaal
• Dupatta: striped field, floral borders, plain tussar edge, hand-knotted tassels
• Condition: unstitched
• Lengths: kurta 2.7m dupatta 2.5 m

Wash Care

• • Dry clean for the first wash; dry cleaning is recommended after that as well.
  • If washing at home, hand wash separately in cold water with a mild, pH-neutral detergent.
  • Do not soak, scrub, wring or tumble dry.
  • A little colour release in early washes is normal for hand-dyed Ajrakh.
  • Dry flat or on a hanger in the shade, away from direct sunlight.
  • Iron on the reverse at low to medium heat. Place a cotton cloth over the fabric if ironing the right side.
  • Store folded in a muslin or cotton bag. Avoid plastic, and do not spray perfume directly on the fabric.