Royal Chikankari Kota Doria Saree Purple Handcrafted

What shade is it?

A soft, light purple, closer to lavender than to a deep violet. Hand dyeing and screens can both shift a shade, so expect a cool pastel purple. The white chikankari sits gently on it rather than in sharp contrast, so the effect is calm and airy, and it pairs easily with white, silver or plum.

What embroidery is on it?

A wide band of checkerboard jaali crosses the pallu end, with floral panels and leafy borders around it and smaller motifs on the body. The work is dense near the end of the drape, so the pallu carries most of the detail.

What should I wear under it?

A cotton petticoat in a shade close to the saree is the safest choice, because Kota Doria is a sheer, airy weave and the petticoat will show through slightly. A fitted, shapewear-style saree petticoat gives a cleaner line at the pleats if you prefer a slimmer drape.

Since it's hand dyed, will the shade vary?

A little. The saree is hand dyed and handcrafted, and minor irregularities are part of what makes each piece unique, so the shade can be slightly lighter or deeper from piece to piece. Screens also show colour differently. Keep to dry cleaning to look after both the colour and the chikankari.

Can I machine wash a chikankari Kota saree?

Please don't. It is dry clean only, because a machine or a harsh detergent can snag the open Kota weave and distort the embroidery. Between wears, keep it in a separate bag in a dry cupboard, change the folds regularly and air it out in dry weather.