Khinkhwab Diaries

Silk, cloud brocade and porcelain — the crafts that gave the world its very word for fine cloth, from the looms of Nanjing to the kilns of Jingdezhen.

The gold-threaded songket, the ikats of the islands and the other glowing weaves of South-East Asia — and where they meet the Banarasi tradition.

A region-by-region map of India's needle arts — chikankari, phulkari, kantha, kasuti, zardozi and more, and the places that gave them their names.

A whirlwind tour of India's saris — one signature weave from every region, from Kanjivaram and Paithani to Jamdani, Patola and beyond.

What to wear to a mehendi: the freshest Banarasi colours — greens, off-whites with green borders and lively rangkat — with three pieces from our Mehendi Collection and styling tips.

What to wear to a haldi: the most flattering Banarasi colours — haldi yellow, mustard, off-white and blush — with four pieces from our Haldi Collection, styling tips and turmeric-stain...

The bridal Banarasi edit: saree or lehenga, the classic reds and pinks plus the modern pastels and off-white, the jewellery to wear with each, and how to choose an heirloom-grade...

The questions customers ask us most — real vs tested zari, pure silk, blouse pieces, custom and sold-out orders, shipping, payment, returns and saree care — answered in one place.

A deep dictionary of Banarasi motifs — the named bootis (ashrafi, chand-tara, kamal, paan, kairi), the jals (lahariya, hira, bulbul-chashm), the borders (kangana, badla, jhalar) and the rare narrative weaves...

A founder's essay on the motifs of a Banarasi saree as a language of their own — Harappa's trefoil, Mughal blooms, Persian paisleys, sacred threads and the lotus, read as...

Where the word 'saree' comes from — the Sanskrit sati ('a strip of cloth'), its regional names, the weaver's-dream folktale, and Kabir's loom — and how it leads to Banaras.

A portrait of Varanasi — Kashi, the city of light — one of the oldest living cities on earth, and why this sacred place on the Ganga became the home...