Our new Varanasi Silks and Saris designs come from the miles of winding lanes that are home to the weavers of Varanasi, India. Inspired by a recent trip our Art Director took to India, this collection pays tribute to Varanasi’s rich tradition of weaving and silk production. Interestingly enough, it was on this same trip that we discovered the fabrics that have become our Sacred Tibetan Textiles collection!
We were so enamoured with the silk weavers’ handiwork that we couldn’t choose just one cover design to release. Our Varanasi Silks and Saris series offers four vibrant covers to choose from – each one named after the Urdu word for the cover’s colour.
Siyah (Black), Sunahara (Golden), Ferozi (Turquoise) and Gulabi (Pink)
The wrap closures on these journals are our way of honouring how these silks were meant to be worn, suggesting the folds of fabric-upon-fabric.
At one time there were as many as 300,000 weavers in the Varanasi area. It is renowned throughout India for its very fine silk and, especially, Banarasi saris. Sadly, today there are fewer than 40,000 weavers left, as young people no longer follow their parents into such a traditional career. By reproducing four of their designs, we hope to help keep the tradition alive by introducing the work of the Varanasi region to people around the world.
Learn more about these new designs and get a peek at what the original fabric looks like on our website!
