The Journal

Longer pieces on cloth, dye and the people who make both. No trends, no styling tips, no five-things listicles.

Everything Saree Chronicles The Craft of Weaving

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.

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Saree 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.