Artist Dress | jamdani indigo & zari

• A versatile OS - fits S/M-M/L comfortably
• Length 48”
• Cross chest 30"
• Sleeve length 10" & circumference 11"
• Model is 5'3"

 

Measurements taken flat so double where necessary; +/- a tolerance inherent to hand made clothing.

• Fabric: 100% light-weight cotton; slightly sheer
• Handfeel: Soft & light
• Care: Gentle hand wash in cold water. Do not soak. Drip dry in shade. Natural colours change over time and may rub.
• Origin: West Bengal, India

 

 

Textile Story

 

This hand spun & woven cotton is entirely hand made. Once the cotton bolls have been gathered, they are carded to clean them of any debris. This is done using a manual or semi-mechanised machine that combs the fibre. It's a time-consuming task as the fibres are carded many times to ensure all the waste left from the cotton seeds is taken out.

 

The cleaned fibre is then spun into yarn on a charkha (spinning wheel) or spindle. The spinning thins out the fibres into a more standard thickness and gives length to the yarn while twisting it to give it strength. This yarn is measured and then prepared for the loom, itself a lengthy process, where it is hand woven to create the cloth.

 

While on the loom, the cloth is embellished by hand with laborious supplementary weft jamdani motifs, adding delicate but sophisticated detailing to the otherwise humble fabric.

 

Not only is cloth made this way environmentally friendly, it also maintains the intrinsic properties of cotton which are usually damaged during machine-processing. Its weave creates air pockets which make it cool in summer and warm in winter and its inherent strength makes it highly durable. The semi-slubbed texture adds authenticity, a richness and variety to the cloth that is not found in machine-processed fabric. Any variations or irregularities are part of the design and inherent to the production process.