Syaahi Mangalagiri Silk Handpainted Slate Gray Dupatta

What's painted on this Syaahi dupatta?

Red lotuses, butterflies and round yellow flowers grow along painted vines across the whole field. The butterflies add movement and give the piece a light, garden-like mood, while the orange border frames the green ground warmly.

What finishes the edges?

A plain orange border runs along both long sides. Being plain rather than patterned, it frames the busy garden painting without adding more pattern, and its warmth picks up the red lotuses and yellow flowers.

What kurta should I wear with it?

Warm solids echo the painting best: an orange, mustard or red kurta, or a plain yellow suit. If you prefer something understated, an off-white kurta with the dupatta pinned on one shoulder keeps the look calm for daytime.

How should I drape it to show the butterflies?

Open it out. At 2.4 to 2.5 metres long and 35 to 36 inches wide, it can be spread across both shoulders or worn open at the front, which shows the vines and butterflies as a full picture. Folding it narrow hides most of the painting.

Any washing tips?

Hand wash it gently, always on its own. Use a mild soap and don't twist the fabric. Hang it straight or lay it flat to dry, and press it from the reverse side so the iron never sits directly on the painted surface.

Why might my piece differ slightly from the one pictured?

Every Syaahi dupatta is painted by hand, so the placement of butterflies and flowers and the depth of each colour vary a little. Screen settings also change how colours look. Small irregularities like these are the sign of hand work, not a fault.