A blush-peach Banarsi silk saree scattered with paired tota butis — facing parrots worked in fine zari hatching, their crests and wings picked out in turquoise and pistachio meena. The motifs, anchal and border are all woven in zari; the border carries a shikargah band of animals and birds moving through foliage, closed on the outer edge by a zigzag rib and a pistachio-green selvedge. Handwoven in Varanasi on a traditional pit loom.
A figurative motif is where Banarsi weaving becomes genuinely difficult. A flower forgives a thread out of place; a bird does not — the beak, the crest, the curve of a tail all have to resolve at the scale of a few warp ends, and each pair of parrots is worked kadhua, motif by motif, with the thread cut between them. The shikargah border compounds it, since the animals must repeat in register along the full run of the drape. About 28 days on the loom for a piece worked this way.
Styling Note
A Nivi drape keeps the tota pairs upright through the pleats and lets the shikargah border read along the hem. Antique-gold jewellery suits the muted blush better than bright polish; temple pieces or a plain gold chand bali keep the attention on the weave. For the blouse, a pistachio green picks up the selvedge and the meena, while a deep rust or terracotta silk warms the peach body.
Caring for Your Handloom
A handloom saree is not just worn — it is preserved, rested, and cared for over time.
After wearing, allow the saree to settle gently. Dry clean only, so the weave, colour, and zari remain protected. When storing, wrap it in a soft muslin cloth and keep it in a dry place. Zari is delicate and responds to changes in weather; the muslin helps the textile breathe while keeping the weave stable.
Avoid spraying perfume directly onto the saree, as fragrance and alcohol can affect the fabric and zari. Every few months, open it out and let it air naturally for a while — a small ritual that allows the weave to breathe and helps the saree stay beautiful for years.
For any specific care requirements, please contact us on +91 73032 57788.
Every Stuti Weaves saree is woven to a standard width of 44–46 inches.
