An all-over paisley top, a plain dark brown bottom, a bordered dupatta.

Why this piece

Genuinely hand block printed with carved wooden blocks - no screen printing
The plain bottom means no print to match up at the seams when stitching
Colour-fast, with no bleed on the first wash

Print and plain

The top length is printed all over in small off-white paisley on dark brown. The bottom is left plain in the same brown, and the dupatta sits between them - moderately printed, with a wide patterned panel at one end.

That combination is easier to wear than an all-over set and easier to stitch, because your tailor has no repeat to match across the salwar seams. It also means you can wear the plain bottom with other tops later.

Wearing it

Brown on brown is quietly expensive-looking and reads well at work, in an office where bright block prints feel loud. Gold or antique brass suits it far better than silver, and a plain off-white inner picks up the print. It is a strong choice as a gift for someone whose size you do not know, since the fabric is cut to fit later.

Earthy hand block prints are usually offered in cotton. On Katan silk the same print carries a sheen that lifts it out of everyday wear.

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 off-white paisleys take the ink a little differently from one press to the next. That unevenness is the block, and it is what tells you this was printed by a person.

Dark Brown Katan Silk Suit, Paisley Top & Plain Bottom | Kairi