Most of us love the rich and lustrous look of silk, but often keep away from it due to the high maintenance and ‘occasion-wear’ status. So, for those who would like to wear it daily, seems almost impossible. However, what if we tell you that you could get the look of a silk saree, but with the comfort of cotton? Does it seem too good to be true? It is indeed possible!
Mashru Silk gives us the best of both worlds with a magical cotton-like comfort and the rich vibrancy of silk!
History
The Mashru fabric is made with distinctive and vibrant threads which can be found in the Kutch and Patan region of Gujarat, which make up for the lack of color in the drab desert regions. The Mandvi port of Kutch was one of the major centers for the production of this fabric. The word ‘Mashru’ means ‘allowed’ in Arabic and this name stems from a very interesting fact.
In Islam, it is considered Haraam for a man to wear silk garments, and silk was not allowed to touch their skin. But since Mashru fabric has Cotton weave on the inside and silk weave on the outside, the silk does not touch the person’s skin and is hence ‘allowed’. However, the fabric was later used by both Muslims and Hindus of the Kutch region.
This fabric instantly became popular in countries like Turkey, Persia and middle eastern countries as it allowed the people to wear such fabrics without breaking any religious rules. It was also favorable to the hot desert conditions in the Kutch region as the cotton underside was soft and absorbent.
Process
The fabric is made up of both cotton and silk fabrics, and thus there is a unique process involved in their making. The weave consists of Cotton weft (or horizontal yarns) and Silk warp, or (vertical yarns) which make up the outer side of the fabric. For the weave to be firm yet show off the lustre of the silk, there are four to eight Cotton wefts for every Silk warp, depending on the quality of the fabric.
After weaving, the fabric is first washed with cold water and then beaten with wooden hammers while the fabric is still moist. Then a paste is made from wheat flour, called glazing and is applied to the folds of the fabric to maintain the consistency of the freshly woven fabric during the dyeing process. It is then beaten again with wooden hammers and tightly pressed with a compress. After this process of priming the fabric is completed, it is ready for dyeing.
Since the fabric is made by intersecting the weaves and alternating between Cotton and Silk yarn, not only does it have a unique mix of the Silk yarns and Cotton yarns, the Mashru fabric is also stronger and more durable than many other Silk fabric.
How To Wear
Owing to its rich look, light weight, & comfort of wearing, Mashru Silk is perfect for crafting any attire. Starting from blouses, crop top, dresses, suits, sarees, skirts or lehenga, jackets & just about everything!
We can see patrons starting to prefer Mashru silk for apparel like blouses, where Mashru fabric provides the perfect mix of the glamor of silk and the comfort of cotton. Checkout Riya, our tribe member flaunt her beautiful red Mashru Silk blouse with a plain Satin saree.
Independent fashion houses and labels like Raw Mango by Sanjay Garg, Ekaya by Palak Shah, have been bringing back and using traditional crafts such as Mashru and Paithani into fashionable designs such as Versatile Indo-western jackets, trousers and other innovative designs.
With our own quest of innovation, we've created an enticing collection of Handblock Mashru Silk fabrics. Keeping in line the statement handblock motifs & the love of all things subtle, the collection features a plethora of pastel shades in attractive prints.
Featured here are our digital print & handblock Mashru Silk fabrics, worn as beautiful sarees. You might want to add a lace as border to complete the look.
The charm & versatility of this fabric allowed us to experiment with all printing methods, be it screen print or digital prints. With a lavish appeal & comfortable feel, our screen print collection is perfect for all occassion wears, be it a wedding or festival. And who doesn't love decking up for these?
Nowadays, it is even being used to make opulent looking home wear such as cushion covers and quilts. It is even being used for making gift bags for events and other such accessories!
The fabric, being lightweight yet rich looking, is perfect for bridesmaid dresses and even the bride’s Sangeet or reception outfits.
So now that you know how to style your favourite looks with Mashru silk, here's Fabriclore’s Mashru silk collection with exquisite patterns & soothing shades, all waiting just for you to craft your story
Let us know in the comments how you plan to wear this comfortable yet lavish fabric.
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