The Tepchi format of this saree has not been kept uniform, as is the case with most bargain basement embroidery cluster workmanship. We have re-designed the Saree format in the lines of a Pure Georgette look saree, with a variety of motif styles on the Palla, increasing the dexterity involved in the work. This helps the artisans break away from the monotony of uniform one motif sarees, by giving them variety to work upon. The saree also has a unique one side heavy border, a novelty in Chikankari sarees. The motifs picked are complex & rarely worked upon.
Azo Free Dyes
Khayal (moodboard):"Rajnigandha Collection was born out of my love of 70s effortless and relatable genre of Hindi Cinema, and the look of the heroines of such films, who felt closer to the women in my family & around me – my mother, my aunts, my teachers – all of whom were heroines in their own life, and were changing the societal mindset, to accept women who knew their mind, could go out & work, or homemakers who needed personal time, have a life and defined choices, while taking their family along in this journey. It was an interesting time!! Rajnigandha was especially chosen for Chikankari sarees, because they were heavily worn by women of all age groups in Lucknow, light worked ones and heavier Tepchi ones in pretty sorbet & pastel shades. The collection is also my heart collective, as it involves Artisan Skill Enhancement at each level, along with using good quality handwoven cotton fabric, all of which has completely disappeared from Chikankari everyday sarees."- Vidhi Rastogi, Head of Creative, MeiraasPoshaak (about the saree):
Tepchi Chikankari on Fluid Kota Doria is like a floating dream on a celestial river. The saree has rarely used unique paisley motifs that form the centrepiece design. We have given a very different theme of the Pallu with complex motifs & designing sensibility borrowed from premium pure georgette sarees in Chikankari.
The saree boasts of a one side heavier Palla, a rarity in design sensibility in Chikankari, that was inspired by some handwoven sarees of India. This makes the saree a rare masterpiece in Tepchi Chikankari.
The saree has been finished with crochet lace & sea shell details.
The soft Aqua Blue hue is soothing to the scorched summer soul, & the Kota is light & airy like a feather.
Styling Tip: Wear these sarees with soothing pearl jewellery or stunning silver, and take these beauties out for lunch, work, brunch, any casual day out.
Imp: Kota Doria Chikankari sarees have lesser width, as soft Kota shrinks with heavy work. We will attach a same colour cotton fabric in the tucking in part seamlessly to provide a ready width of 44 inches, at no additional cost.
KHAYAL (mood board):
Dopehri is a summer song of Lucknow presented by Meiraas!! Through this entry range collection of ours, we want you to step into the oasis of slow summer living of yesteryears that we are all trying to bring back collectively!!
POSHAAK (about the product):
Very soft cotton Chikankari Dupatta with ghaspatti, shadow phanda hand embroidery, clamp dyed in Natural Dye (shiuli)
The summery dupatta is our attempt at bringing natural dyes & Chikankari closer, we have already done this in our premium collection & this is the first foray in entry range collection.
Important:
1.Please read Washing Instructions carefully as Natural dyes behave differently.
2
Important:
1.Please read Washing Instructions carefully as Natural dyes behave differently.
2.Only Dupatta is available to shop from this post.
Fabric: Powerloom Cotton
Styling Tip: Will work beautifully with any pastel or white kurta.
KHAYAL (mood board):
Dopehri is a summer song of Lucknow presented by Meiraas!! Through this entry range collection of ours, we want you to step into the oasis of slow summer living of yesteryears that we are all trying to bring back collectively!!
POSHAAK (about the product):
Very soft cotton Chikankari Dupatta with ghaspatti, shadow phanda hand embroidery, clamp dyed in Natural Dye (madder)
The summery dupatta is our attempt at bringing natural dyes & Chikankari closer, we have already done this in our premium collection & this is the first foray in entry range collection.
Important:
1.Please read Washing Instructions carefully as Natural dyes behave differently.
2
Important:
1.Please read Washing Instructions carefully as Natural dyes behave differently.
2.Only Dupatta is available to shop from this post.
Fabric: Powerloom Cotton
Styling Tip: Will work beautifully with any pastel or white kurta.
KHAYAL (mood board):
Dopehri is a summer song of Lucknow presented by Meiraas!! Through this entry range collection of ours, we want you to step into the oasis of slow summer living of yesteryears that we are all trying to bring back collectively!!
POSHAAK (about the product):
Very soft cotton Chikankari Dupatta with ghaspatti, shadow phanda hand embroidery, clamp dyed in Natural Dye (madder)
The summery dupatta is our attempt at bringing natural dyes & Chikankari closer, we have already done this in our premium collection & this is the first foray in entry range collection.
Important:
1. Please read Washing Instructions carefully as Natural dyes behave differently.
2
Important:
1.Please read Washing Instructions carefully as Natural dyes behave differently.
2.Only Dupatta is available to shop from this post.
Fabric: Powerloom Cotton
Styling Tip: Will work beautifully with any pastel or white kurta.
It is said very light colours do not work in Shibori!! Where is a pastel Dusty Lilac!! How is this working so well? To understand, read the Poshaak section below:
THE SUSTAINABILITY QUOTIENT (TSQ):
- 120 Count Linen x Line Handloom saree: The Linen is finest quality and Handwoven for Meiraas on order
- Linen weave commissioned for Meiraas, therefore full quality control
- Thrice filtered Azo Free Dye for best & most sustainable results.
POSHAAK (detailed process about the garment)
We will go into detail in explaining our Nui Shibori process. While there are many Nui Shibori sarees available everywhere, most lack the intensity & design aesthetics; possibly this is why, despite being a beautiful art that attracts many, Nui Shibori has also seen a clutter of unfinished or less finished products that render the buyer confused about the quality.
Our Nui Shibori designs are first designed on paper, and the traced on fabric. The fabric is given more folds while creating resist pattern to increase the intensity of the design. To create resist on so many folds, a thicker needle, than usual, is used to do embroidery on the traced pattern (embroidery is done via sewing machine). Please note that these 2 steps - more folds & thicker needle that penetrates the folds - are critical to create the intense design pattern of Nui Shibori.
If the needle does not penetrate all layers, then you cannot see the clear holes on the fabric that are the mark & beauty of Nui (Embroidery) Resist.
Post embroidery, the embroidery threads are meticulously pulled to create resist (since we use very premium fabrics, this process takes time as a careless pulling can damage the fabric).
The dye is filtered thrice; this step is another important step, as Shibori is about colour textures on resist tie & dye. The smoother the pigment, the more beautiful will be the end result.
After dying, the threads of resist are meticulously pulled out, another laborious process, as one wrong pull will render the whole saree damaged. The saree is then washed in salted water to fix the colour & dried.
Our Shibori sarees win hearts wherever they go. They are stunning and intense in their design palette. The colour used in this saree is Dusty Lilac, a lovely dusty English Lilac with tones of Pink colour!! It is due to our methodical steps that Nui Shibori pattern has come out so beautifully in this ethereal colour. A truly remarkable saree!!
Please note that the saree might appear Shell Pink in yellow light & Dusty Lilac in regular white light. It is the nature of colour & fabric both. In the images it is looking more Shell Pink, and indoors will look clear Dusty Lilac. Please factor this in when making the purchase. The colour is absolutely unique in any light.Please Note: Slight wrinkles are part of Pure Linen texture. Linen is the most low maintenance fabric. Ideally before draping this saree, take it out and spread it and hang somewhere at least a day before; its wrinkles will smoothen significantly. Mostly it should be worn with slight wrinkles, yet if you wish to iron the dhobi press will be fine, with a cloth on top.
THE SUSTAINABILITY QUOTIENT (TSQ):
- 120 Count Linen x Line Handloom saree: The Linen is finest quality and Handwoven for Meiraas on order
- Linen weave commissioned for Meiraas, therefore full quality control
- Thrice filtered Azo Free Dye for best & most sustainable results.
POSHAAK (detailed process about the garment)
We will go into detail in explaining our Nui Shibori process. While there are many Nui Shibori sarees available everywhere, most lack the intensity & design aesthetics; possibly this is why, despite being a beautiful art that attracts many, Nui Shibori has also seen a clutter of unfinished or less finished products that render the buyer confused about the quality.
Our Nui Shibori designs are first designed on paper, and the traced on fabric. The fabric is given more folds while creating resist pattern to increase the intensity of the design. To create resist on so many folds, a thicker needle, than usual, is used to do embroidery on the traced pattern (embroidery is done via sewing machine). Please note that these 2 steps - more folds & thicker needle that penetrates the folds - are critical to create the intense design pattern of Nui Shibori.
If the needle does not penetrate all layers, then you cannot see the clear holes on the fabric that are the mark & beauty of Nui (Embroidery) Resist.
Post embroidery, the embroidery threads are meticulously pulled to create resist (since we use very premium fabrics, this process takes time as a careless pulling can damage the fabric).
The dye is filtered thrice; this step is another important step, as Shibori is about colour textures on resist tie & dye. The smoother the pigment, the more beautiful will be the end result.
After dying, the threads of resist are meticulously pulled out, another laborious process, as one wrong pull will render the whole saree damaged. The saree is then washed in salted water to fix the colour & dried.
Our Shibori sarees win hearts wherever they go. They are stunning and intense in their design palette. The colour used in this saree is Indigo pigment mixed with Purple pigment which makes the saree give a mix of both colours in different lights!! A truly remarkable saree.
Please Note that Linen is a thermostatic fabric & absorbs & reflects back colour according to its nature. In white light the colour will carry deep Indigo Hue, & in Yellow light, its Purples will come out. This is the nature of both the colour & fabric and its beauty. Please factor this in when making the purchase.Please Note: Slight wrinkles are part of Pure Linen texture. Linen is the most low maintenance fabric. Ideally before draping this saree, take it out and spread it and hang somewhere at least a day before; its wrinkles will smoothen significantly. Mostly it should be worn with slight wrinkles, yet if you wish to iron the dhobi press will be fine, with a cloth on top.
The beautiful shade of Coral Red comes alive even more in this Silk Shibori stole with white Shibori Patterns of Waves.
Indian Nui Shibori Stole on Tussar Silk (Pure) fabric.
Indian NUI Shibori is a varied version of the original Japanese Nui Shibori. The Japanese Shibori is done only by hand & generally makes one big pattern on a small swatch of fabric.
In India, this method varies. The patterns in Indian NUI are drawn by hand on papern, and then sewn by sewing machine allover the fabric.
The handmade process involved here is drawing the pattern, tracing on fabric, tying & dyeing post machine embroidery, opening of all tie to reveal final product, finishing treatment (eco friendly).
Note: These days a lot of Digitally made Shibori from India is doing the round of market that looks very intricate in the first look. However on deeper 2nd look, you see that the NUI holes (made from sewing machine embroidery) are barely visible & light cannot pass through them. Therefore please bear in mind that the Indian NUI Shibori will have prominent needle marks in pattern (refer to the last image).
The names of the stoles are creative & not an indication of exact colour match with the name provided. Please bear that in mind when making the purchase.
Haldi yellow coloured beautiful Handwoven Desi Tussar Silk Kurta Fabric from the looms of Bhagalpur, Bihar. This is a must have ideal Kurta/Dress Fabric for any season, especially for festive winter occasions.
Pair them with plain Cotton Silk pants in same colour for classy monochromatic ensemble.
Styling Tip: Will pair beautifully with our The Crown Gold Zari Silk Chikankari DupattaWhat is Desi Tussar?
In India, mainly 4 varieties of silk are produced - Tussar, Eri, Mulberry, Muga. Out of these, Mulberry Silk is cultivated silk, whereas the rest 3 silks are Wild silks. This is an important distinction, this means yarn for the wild silks are obtained from indigenous silk worm species feeding on wild forest tree leaves. Tussar Silk yarn is extracted from silk worms that feed on wild forest trees and has a natural golden glow. Its weaving is centred mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. Please note like all Tussar Silk, this is Wild Silk, handspun, thigh reeled and Handwoven. Desi Tussar is just a colloquial term used by weavers of Bhagalpur, Bihar to indicate towards the purest variety of woven Tussar Silk yardage. The same fabric and process will be called Kosa Silk if woven in Chattisgarh. The silk you are seeing here is therefore the purest variety of Handloom Tussar Silk. Desi Tussar term is just used here for colloquial purpose.
FROM THE VAULT COLLECTIVE
Chandrakala is our final firm foray into the World of Aari & Zardozi art of Lucknow. We always wanted to do this art, but only for Museum Quality wearable art pieces, & nothing less!! Chandrakala is just that.
KHAYAL (moodboard):
Chandrakala, or the art of crafting Moon, is a labour of extensive research we did before launching this Vault Collective Zardozi Dupatta, crafted in Lucknow. We visited the museums of Jaipur, & in one of them saw a Red silk odhani, with Moons crafted on it with Real Gold dabka wires. The antique dupatta was torn at some places, telling stories of a once glorious past, but was carefully preserved in the Museum. It was reaching out to us with a gaze that was almost saying "Resurrect Me!!". That was the moment we decided this will be our first Zardozi Dupatta. We could not photograph the Dupatta, & neither creating the exact replica was in our minds. We did have a Chikankari motif, an old one, that had a beautiful Chaand border (see here Chaand Mayur Dhanlakshami Chanderi Saree). We decided to re create a format of that antique motif that was so reminiscent of the Maharani's Dupatta we saw, that we made a Zardozi "khaaka" out of it. The fabric used was pure Handwoven Tussar Silk to create that Regal journey!! - Vidhi Rastogi, Head of Creative, MeiraasÂ
POSHAAK (about the saree):
Chandrakala Dupatta is made on Handwoven Tussar Silk that is certified by Silk Mark of India. The fabric is supple and perfect to hold and add to the grace of the regal work on it. The border is embroidered with a beautiful & unique Chaand Border (read above), and has been embroidered using both Silver & Golden Dabka wires. The Dabka is extremely fine quality, please use Zoom to see the intricate detailing. The 4 side heavy border is complemented with small flower bootis in the body. To take this further, the dupatta is finished with Handwoven Gold Pure Zari Silk selvedge detailing, to make it one of a kind outstanding Dupatta.
It is perfect as a one time investment to take on Lehengas, Kurtas, as a Light Shawl on sarees. This is a perfect gift for a new Bride as well, she will cherish it forever and pass on her legacy to her future generations.
Important: 1 Dupatta is Ready to Ship.
White Cotton Silk Kurta with Front & back full panel Ek Daana Tepchi Embroidery in Turquoise Blue, inspired by Jaali Khidki of Nawabi Architecture. The Safed & Firoza is a blend favoured heavily by Nawabs. Stitching of the Kurta is complimentary by Meiraas, along with Detachable Slip. Please choose your size from the size chart.
The Sustainability Quotient (SQ):
1. Skilled Resham Hand Embroidery
2. Ek Daana Painstaking Tepchi.
3.Higher price paid to the artisans than regularly paid wages in the market .
Additional Details: This Kurta can be stitched uptil sizes S (small) to XXL (Extra Extra Large) only, with same size detachable slip. Please select your size & we will stitch it complimentary with slip.
Ready Length: Approx. 44 inches.(this is meant to be 60s inspired knee length or just below the knee)
" This saree was love at first sight for me! Two sweet Rajkot Patola weavers met me sometime back and opened their treasure box full of most supple soft silk sarees. That was my first introduction to Patola weave. Later I found that Patola sarees are woven in two towns in Gujarat - Rajkot & Patan. The Patan Patola is hands down the most premium version with its double Ikat starting in lakhs. The Rajkot Patola is its cousin, that though not as regal as its rich counterpart, is still one of most supple and graceful weaves. This is a Single Ikat Rajkot Patola with lovely highlights of Gold and Burnt Orange on glistening black pure silk body. The saree is incredibly soft and its pleats form & fall like a poem. It is perfect to drape on festive, wedding or puja occasions" - Vidhi Rastogi, Head of Creative, Meiraas
The saree is Black with Gold chakra Ikat weaving and gorgeous border of Gold and Burnt Orange Ikat pattern. The saree is a must have!
"Panchtantra was a collection of Chanderi sarees I conceptualised & designed in 2018, & executed somewhere in 2019. I wanted to introduce the iconography of the tales of Panchtantra I had grown up reading & whose learning I always imbibed in me. Sutradhaar was a saree added to the Panchtantra collection, and depicts a Golden Tree of Wisdom with small birds that often in Panchtantra tales, act as story narrators of Sutradhaar. " - Vidhi Rastogi, Head of Creative, Meiraas
Gorgeous Black Handwoven Chanderi saree with Pure Zari Gold motifs of Tree and further meenakari motifs of colourful birds perched in the tree running all through the saree!! A truly spectacular saree!!
We know you love to wait for Meiraas creations, but some situations require you to reach out to us for pieces that are Ready to be Shipped. For the ease of our patrons, we are compiling them in this section.