Khinkhwab Diaries

Frame it, tailor it, re-cut it, live with it — what to actually do with a Banarasi brocade in a modern wardrobe and a modern house.

Island embroidery, the shaggy flokati and Byzantine silk — a journey through the handcrafts of Greece and its scattered islands.

Brocade as the language of power — how cloth of gold dressed the kings, queens and cathedrals of Europe, from Byzantium to Versailles.

A cloth protected by Act of Parliament, a dress banned by one, and the mill town that took a Persian motif and gave it a Scottish name.

How kincob, the English word for Indian gold brocade, travelled from the looms of Banaras into the wardrobes and account books of Europe.

The decline and quiet revival of the Banarasi handloom — the powerloom challenge, the GI fight and the weavers keeping the craft alive.

The Persian and Mughal roots of Banarasi design — how paisleys, vines and garden flowers travelled along the loom into the heart of the Banarasi saree.

A Banarasi for every celebration — how to choose colour, weave and motif for Diwali, Navratri, Durga Puja, Eid and the festive season.

The lightest Banarasi silks for hot days — organza, kora, georgette and tissue, and how to stay cool while still wearing handloom.

A guide to gifting a saree — how to choose the right Banarasi for a mother, sister, bride or friend, whatever the occasion.

A second life for an old saree — gentle, loving ways to revive, restyle and repurpose a Banarasi that has been in the family for years.

Silk first aid — what to do, and what never to do, the moment a saree meets a spill, from tea and turmeric to oil and ink.