Olive green under a white vine-and-paisley print, chevrons at the hem.

Why this piece

Genuinely hand block printed with hand-carved wooden blocks in Bhagalpur
The top is printed densely and the dupatta more openly, so they layer well
Opaque and unlined, stitchable up to 4XL with customised length

Vines and chevrons

A white vine winds through medium-scale paisley across an olive green ground, with yellow and terracotta warming the print where it opens up. The top length is printed densely; the dupatta is left more open, so wearing them together does not overwhelm.

At the hem, a solid horizontal band carries a repeating chevron, which gives a plain straight kurta a defined edge with no work from your tailor.

Wearing it

Olive with white is the most wearable version of a bold print - it holds up in an office, at a festive lunch and at a day function. Terracotta or wooden jewellery picks up the accents; gold works too. Have the chevron band placed at the hem rather than cut across.

Vine-and-paisley work in two scales, printed by hand on silk, is unusual at this price - the combination is normally found on cotton or on much costlier woven sets.

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

The vine does not join perfectly from one repeat to the next. That break is where one block ended and the next began, by hand.

Olive Green Katan Silk Suit, White Vine & Paisley | Kairi