What does this green saree look like?
The body is a plain, muted sage green, a soft grey-green, with wide silver floral brocade on the pallu and along the hem. The brocade frames the pleats and falls over the shoulder, and silver against sage gives a cool, calm look that suits a puja or an office day.
Will the sage shade vary from the photo?
Slightly, perhaps. Colour hues can look a little different from the image on different screens and displays, and muted shades like sage are especially sensitive to that. The saree is hand dyed, and minor irregularities are part of what makes each handcrafted piece unique.
What blouse goes with sage and silver?
The saree comes with an attached blouse piece that can be tailored to your fit. For a coordinated look, a silver blouse echoes the brocade; for contrast, deep maroon, plum or navy sit well against sage. Silver or oxidised jewellery keeps the cool tone.
How should I store it?
Dry clean only. Keep it in a separate bag in a dry place, change the folds regularly and air it now and then away from moisture, so the silver brocade on the pallu and hem is not always creased along the same line. If it ever needs drying, dry it in the shade.
What is the total length?
It measures 6.3 to 6.4 metres, including the attached blouse piece. Once the blouse is cut off, you have a comfortable length for a regular drape with full pleats and a pallu that falls well, with enough left over to wear the brocade pallu open over the shoulder so the woven border shows along the pleats.
Where is it woven?
In our Bhagalpur hub in Bihar, a weaving centre long known for its silks and linens. The Banarasi name describes the style of brocade weaving rather than the city where this piece was made, so you get Banarasi-style motifs on Bhagalpur silk linen.
How can I tell handloom from power loom?
Turn the brocade over. On a handwoven piece the reverse shows the extra threads that build each motif, with small variations in tension and spacing. The repeats are close but not mechanically perfect, and the edges may be slightly uneven. A power-loom saree looks uniformly regular throughout.