Indigo Blue Tussar Ghicha Silk Saree with Zari Border – Bhagalpuri Handloom

Uttarvahini

Deep indigo, shot through with the silver striations natural to ghicha yarn. A silver zari border runs the length of both sides, and the pallu opens into bands of gold and copper.

About the weave

There is no print and no painting on this saree. Everything you see is yarn and loom: the pale striations are the ghicha itself, running lighter and darker along its length so the indigo never sits flat; the borders and pallu bands are real metallic zari, woven in rather than applied.

The effect is quiet at rest and considerable in movement. Indigo absorbs light, silver throws it back, and the two are interleaved through the whole cloth.

About the fabric

Tussar Ghicha silk, handwoven in Bhagalpur. Ghicha is the yarn drawn from the outer layers of the cocoon and spun by hand — hence the slubby, uneven texture and the soft matte lustre rather than a flat shine. It has more body than plain tussar and holds a pleat beautifully.

What it's for

Restrained enough for a formal working day, dressy enough for a wedding evening. Indigo and silver is one of the few festive combinations that doesn't read as festive until you look closely.

Details

• Fabric: Tussar Ghicha Silk
• Colour: Indigo blue with silver and gold zari
• Border: Silver zari, both sides
• Pallu: Silver zari with gold and copper stripe bands
• Body: Plain, with the natural silver striation of ghicha yarn
• Blouse piece:, unstitched, 0.8 m
• Saree length: 5.5 m | Width: 1.1 m
• Care: Dry clean only. Store wrapped in cotton or muslin, refold along a different line every few months.

A note on handloom

Each piece is woven individually, so slight irregularities in the slub and small variations in the spacing of the zari bands are characteristic of the craft rather than defects. The silver striation is the natural character of ghicha yarn and differs from piece to piece. Colour may vary a little from your screen.