Maroon Dupatta with Narali Border and Vintage Pallu

Yes, all our Paithanis are hand woven on handlooms, using a technique that is more than five centuries old. Our master weavers are approved and certified by the Indian Government Ministry of Handlooms.

All our textiles (sarees and dupattas) are woven by our team of master weavers who are based in Yeola, a small town in Maharashtra.

We use only natural yarns, pure silk and pure cotton.

In most of our sarees we use ‘tested zari’, a high quality metallic thread. With proper care and maintenance, this zari will last for years and will not lose its luster.

Although the ancient saris had real gold and silver in them, nowadays weavers have stopped using these precious metals. The aim is to keep costs under control and to make the Paithani saree more affordable. Artificial zari looks and behaves exactly like real silver. However we have used real silver zari in certain pieces and collections, and we also accept orders using silver zari if the client requests us to do so.

When a textile is woven on a hand loom, undergoes a lot of handling .The yarn has to be of a certain strength. For Paithani weaving, two ply yarns of silk have to be used. Anything thinner than 2 ply will make the fabric weak and compromise the life and the appearance of the saree. This is the reason that Paithanis are heavy in weight

The silk yarns are coated with starch before they are put on the loom . The starch gives stability and strength to the fibres and helps fasten the weaving process. The starch along with the tension of the handloom, makes the fabric slightly stiff . A brand new saree is also roll pressed which adds to its crispness. After subsequent use, the silk yarns become pliable and soft. In case you prefer a softer drape, we recommend you to dry clean the piece before wearing it for the first time. Ensure that you get it done from a reputed dry cleaner.

In any woven textile. The vertical / lengthwise yarns are called ‘warp’ yarns and the horizontal yarns are called ‘weft’ yarns. A fabric is woven by interlacing the warp and the weft yarns. Sometimes we use different colours for warp and weft. After weaving, the resultant fabric will display both the colours when viewed from different angles. This effect is called ‘dhoop chaon’ or ‘shot colours’ (two toned). It is this unique feature, combined with the high lustre of silk, that makes the Paithani sarees look luxuriant and opulent.

Technically this term itself is wrong. When a saree is woven using the Banarasi / Jacquard weaving technique and if the designs mimic the traditional Paithani designs, most people get fooled into believing that it is a genuine Paithani saree.

Banarasi Paithanis / Kanjeevaram Paithanis / South Paithanis are NOT genuine Paithani sarees.

Ask questions about the weaver and place of origin. Do verify if it is woven on a handloom. Sometimes sarees are woven on a Powerloom and just ‘look’ like a Paithani. Flip the saree and see the reverse side. A genuine Paithani will never have long ‘floats’ or yarns running across the motifs. The Paithani design looks exactly the same on the face as well as the reverse side.

It can take minimum 45 to 60 days. ‘All over’/‘Jaal’ sarees can take upto a year.

Factors like design and motif play the main role in estimating time required. Unforeseen challenges like problems with weaver’s health and personal life can also affect the timeline.

All our pieces are handmade, from drawing the designs on paper, to dyeing, setting up the loom and the actual weaving process. Like all good things in life, these heirlooms take time and patience. The end result is worth the wait!

You can reach out to us via text or Whatsapp on +91 9881198540. Our designer will be happy to help you place an order.