Jama Silk Ikat Tunic-Robe | satsuma

This extraordinary design traces its lineage to 19th-century Rajasthan. Inspired by the traditional atamsukh, literally “giver of pleasure to self”, and adapted from the original Jama Robe of Persian decent, we’ve reimagined this 200-year-old silhouette into a contemporary interpretation.

 

• A sweeping wrap-over style with functional ties on both the inner and outer panels, this piece can be worn in multiple ways: leave it open as a dramatic robe with cascading front panels, or secure the ties to transform it into a sculptural tunic-dress.
• Super-oversized body balanced with dropped, narrow, full-length sleeves
• Close-fitting kimono collar lends refined structure when worn closed
• Triangular side panels create its generous, architectural volume, finishing at an elegant knee length
• Crafted from handwoven, lightweight mulberry silk - crisp, airy, and luminous. It has a soft structure which holds its shape.
• Meticulously tied and dyed by master ikat artisans of Telangana in motifs unique to the region’s storied textile heritage.
• All orders come lovingly packed in upcycled silk bags

• One size: fits XS-XL comfortably
  • Length center front 40” 
  • Chest 70” round
  • Sleeve length 22”

+/- a tolerance inherent to hand made clothing

• Fabric: 100% silk
• Handfeel: Crisp & lightweight with a smooth handfeel
• Care: Gentle hand wash in cold water. Do not soak. Drip dry in shade.
• Origin: Telangana, India

 

 

Textile Story

 

Hand-dyed and woven by a group of specialised ikat master-artisans in one of India’s historic ikat centres: Hyderabad in Telangana. The region, particularly the weaving towns around Pochampally, has been known for its distinctive telia rumaland geometric ikats for centuries, with references to the craft appearing in local trade records from the late medieval period. Telangana ikat is recognised for its sharp motifs, complex resist-dyeing sequences, and the high level of mathematical precision required from both dyer and weaver.

 

Ikat itself is an ancient dyeing and weaving process found across India, Japan, China and Central Asia. The word refers to the resist-dyeing technique: before any colour is applied, the yarn is meticulously tied with string in predetermined locations. These tied sections resist the dye, and the yarn is then untied and retied for each new colour. Only once the dyeing is complete are the threads placed onto the loom.

 

The weaving demands exceptional precision. Each dyed section must be aligned by hand to bring the motifs into focus—a slow, attentive process where even a slight shift can change the visual rhythm of the pattern. Variations, soft shifts, and minor irregularities are part of the craft; the result of hundreds of small human decisions, making each piece inherently unique. The hallmark of ikat is its gentle, feathered edges: the characteristic “blur” where dye meets resistance, a visual signature of the technique itself.

 

Any variations or irregularities are to be celebrated. They are a natural result of the hand-crafted process, and part of what makes each piece quietly and unmistakably unique.