Fuchsia and blue paisley, printed sprig by sprig across all three pieces.

Why this piece

Colour-fast - the fuchsia does not run into the blue on the first wash
Wide horizontal bands finish the edges, so the dupatta needs no extra trim
A complete unstitched set: top, bottom and dupatta, stitched to your fit

The print

This is the loud one. Fuchsia and blue hold the ground in near-equal measure, small floral sprigs fill the space between the paisleys, and touches of gold and white keep the two strong colours from flattening into each other.

The density is deliberate - the blocks are stamped close, so from a distance the set reads as a rich violet, and only up close do the separate colours resolve.

Wearing it

A print this saturated wants nothing else competing with it: plain juttis, a single bangle stack, hair off the face. It is the piece for a mehendi, a Diwali lunch or a day wedding, and it holds up just as well as an office kurta when you cut the dupatta out of the styling.

Most block-print suits at this price are cotton. This is silk, with the lustre and drape that comes with it, and the same genuine hand-stamped craft.

The set

Top: 2.5 m, 44 to 45 inches wide
Bottom: 2.5 m, 44 to 45 inches wide
Dupatta: 2.5 m, 35 to 36 inches wide
Fabric: Katan silk, hand block printed with hand-carved wooden blocks
Lining: not required, the fabric is opaque; add one only to elevate the look
Stitching: up to 4XL for straight kurta sets, with length customised for larger sizes
Weight: 600 to 650 g for top, bottom and dupatta together
Care: dry clean the first time, then a gentle cold hand wash
Dispatch: dispatched the next working day, even though every metre is printed by hand
Collection: Kairi

No two lengths of this print are identical. The blocks are aligned by eye, so the repeat wanders a little - the signature of work done by hand.

Violet Katan Silk Suit in Fuchsia & Blue Paisley | Kairi