Turquoise and Black Sambalpuri Handloom Cotton Dress Material

A handwoven turquoise and black Sambalpuri handloom cotton dress material from Odisha. The turquoise kurta fabric is woven with white and maroon mandala and geometric ikat motifs set in alternating roundels and lattice-like squares, paired with a solid black bottom and a turquoise and black dupatta with temple borders and bandha floral motifs. For office, daily and festive wear.

Design details

• Top: Turquoise cotton with white and maroon mandala and geometric ikat motifs in alternating roundels and lattice-like squares. Top fabric: 2.5 x 1.17 metres.
• Bottom: Solid black cotton: 2 x 1.12 metres.
• Dupatta: Turquoise and black with temple borders and bandha floral motifs: 2.5 x 0.91 metres.
• Set: Unstitched, for salwar suits, kurtas or Indo-western outfits.

Occasions and styling

Turquoise and black looks crisp at work and at small gatherings. A straight kurta with black cigarette pants works well; add silver jhumkas for the day and a bolder neckpiece for the evening.

About Sambalpuri handloom

Sambalpuri fabrics are woven in western Odisha, in Sambalpur, Bargarh and Sonepur (Subarnapur), and the Sambalpuri Bandha saree and fabrics are GI-tagged. Bandha is Odisha's tie-and-dye ikat, where the yarns are resist-dyed in sections before weaving. Traditional motifs include shankha (conch), chakra (wheel), phula (flower), rudraksha and pasapalli, a chessboard check inspired by the game of pasa.

Care

Hand wash each piece separately in cold water before stitching to pre-shrink the fabric, and dry in shade. For the first wash, dry clean or hand wash separately in cold water with a mild detergent, as handloom dyes may bleed slightly. Iron on medium heat; light starch keeps the cotton crisp.