SAMARKAND DRESS | Handwoven Silk Cotton Natural Dye

• Straight cut dress with side slits and pockets
• Handspun and handwoven silk-cotton
• Block printed by hand in Black Marble Inlay print
• Natural mineral and plant dye
• Fine tuxedo pleats on bodice front 
• Jet black mandarin collar and handmade tassels
• V neck
• Narrow, single button cuffs with contrasting block print detail
• French seams
• Mother of pearl buttons
• Limited Edition. /25 Lot No. 0624

Natural fibers, drawn out and twisted together by hand to form a yarn.

Handspun yarns woven together using a handloom.

Wearing handspun and handwoven fabric has a different feeling than wearing industrially produced fabrics; handwoven fabric drapes and breathes with a supple softness, in a rhythm that can only be created by skilled human hands. The feeling is truly luxurious.

Derived from locally sourced plants and minerals, natural dyes draw from thousands of years of Ayurvedic knowledge.

Through the use of these ancient processes and natural dyes, the fabric gains a unique characteristic. During summer, the dye expands the pores of the fabric, making it easy for air to pass through. During winter, the pores close tighter, providing warmth.

Natural dyes produce subtle, layered colours with exquisite tonal variation. This artisanal work inherently results in variations and makes each piece a unique expression of natural elements.

Natural dyes include indigo, henna, turmeric, pomegranate, jaggery, iron, ash, rhubarb root, mud and red clay and are biodegradable, generate zero waste, help to preserve water quality, and contribute to the nutrient cycle of soil.

In India, artisans have used hand carved wooden blocks to print on handwoven fabric for nearly four thousand years. This fabric was printed layer by layer, colour by colour - entirely by hand.

Handwork naturally results in variations in color and placement. We cherish these nuances for their human touch.

Each block print started as a tree, then a wood block, carved by hand into sets of intricate patterns, dipped and stamped layer by layer, revealing ancient motifs of Earth and sky