Odisha Handloom Cotton Saree Charcoal Lily Border Buti

A sheer handloom cotton saree from Odisha in soft cream bordered with a deep charcoal grey panel of lilies and leafy vines with small grey butis drifting across the body and a chequered edge detail at the border finished with hand twisted cream tassels at the pallu To tell this cloth from its powerloom imitation start with your fingertips the slub textured ground has tiny thick and thin passages in the yarn that you can feel where mill cloth feels uniformly smooth Then study the butis handworked motifs sit proud of the sheer ground and vary a touch in size from one to the next a machine repeat is identical down to the millimetre On the reverse of the border carried grey threads float between flowers printed cloth shows nothing but pale ghosting Even the chequered border strip shows the gentle waviness of a hand controlled weft Cream and charcoal is a quietly confident pairing it reads formal without weight which makes this saree work hard Wear it to the office evening gatherings or art openings with a black or grey blouse oxidised silver finishes it beautifully