The Journal
Longer pieces on cloth, dye and the people who make both. No trends, no styling tips, no five-things listicles.
Saree Chronicles · 5 min
Why do Bengali women wear red and white?
Watch any Bengali character in an Indian film. Look at a Durga Puja poster. Scroll through old family photos from bengal. The woman in the frame is almost wearing the same thing. A white saree with a deep red border. Red and white bangles on her wrists. A streak of vermillion in her hair, and a round red bindi.
Read itSaree Chronicles · 5 min
Mangalgiri cotton silk: a handloom saree that works on an ordinary day
There is a saree a lot of women keep near the front of the wardrobe. Not the heavy one saved for weddings. The one that goes on for a Monday meeting, a school event, or lunch with an old friend. For many, that saree is a Mangalgiri cotton silk.
The Craft of Weaving · 3 min
How to wash handloom cotton sarees at home
Washed the right way, a handloom cotton saree gets softer with every wear. Here is how to do it at home without harming the weave.
The Craft of Weaving · 4 min
How to store silk sarees the right way
Silk sarees are often the ones we keep the longest. A little care in how you fold and store them is what lets them last. Here is how to do it at home.
The Craft of Weaving · 10 min
How to know real handloom when you hold it
The Handloom Buyer's Guide
The Craft of Weaving · 4 min
Which handloom saree is best for beginners?
A first saree should not fight you. Some fabrics hold their pleats and stay on the shoulder. Others slip all day. Here is what to buy first, and why.