The Lexicon of Craft: A Guide to Heritage Silk & Textiles

Step into a collection of rare, centuries-old masteries - from the shimmering gold of Gyasar to the intricate silk weaves of Tanchoi. This is a heritage of slow, considered luxury: handcrafted pieces from global master artisans.

Front view of the Silver Laleh pillow in silver Gyasar silk featuring gold-tipped tulip motifs and a central geometric lattice panel.

Gyasar Silk: The Masterpiece of Handwoven Metallic Brocade

Imagine a fabric sculpted from threads of precious metal. A technique historically reserved for the sacred ceremonial robes of Tibet, Gyasar is an alchemy of heavy silk and metallic zari thread, where patterns are born from within the weave itself. This creates a dimensional masterpiece where motifs are physically raised from the ground, catching the light with a luminous texture.

  • The Tactile Signature: A "raised" feel with a sun-drenched, golden shimmer.
  • The Heritage: Historically commissioned for monasteries; today, it remains one of the rarest forms of handwoven brocade.
Read about Gyasar
Front view of the Anār pillow showing the raised jacquard pomegranates in terracotta and rose on slate blue silk.

Tanchoi Weave: The Architectural Integrity of Fine Hand-Loomed Silk

Tanchoi is the art of the "invisible weave." Unlike embroidery, which sits on top of the fabric, Tanchoi patterns are built into the very architecture of the silk as it is woven. This results in an intricate, silk-on-silk inlay - a landscape of color and light. Because the pattern is built into the the fabric, Tanchoi textiles are exceptionally heavy, durable, and often beautifully reversible.

  • The Tactile Signature: Velvet-smooth, heavy-weight silk.
  • The Heritage: A sophisticated fusion of Chinese technique and Indian artistry, perfected in the weaving hubs of Banaras.
Learn about Tanchoi
The Silken Sage dual-sided pillow featuring a sage green hand-loomed Pochampally ikat silk front.

Double Ikat: The Precision of Hand-Dyed Heritage Textiles

Often called the "poetry of the loom," Ikat is a feat of mathematical artistry where artisans tie and resist-dye thousands of individual threads before the weaving begins. It is a calculated gamble of skill: only on the loom does the vision finally resolve. This creates a signature "feathery edge": a soft, organic geometry that records the human hand in dialogue with possibility.

  • The Tactile Signature: A soft, organic blur at the edges of every pattern; unique to hand-dyed silk.
  • The Heritage: A global tradition of calculated beauty, where every drop of dye is placed with mathematical intent to ensure the pattern resolves on the loom, centering on the intricate Pochampally and Patola traditions.
Discover the mathematical precision of Ikat

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Heritage Craft: Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Gyasar silk different from standard brocade? +
Unlike standard machine-made brocade, Gyasar is a heavy, ceremonial-grade silk defined by metallic thread hand-woven into raised, three-dimensional motifs. It is prized for its sculptural weight and light-reflective quality once reserved for sacred textiles.
Is Tanchoi silk reversible? +
Yes. A hallmark of the Tanchoi technique is its structural integrity. Because the patterns are built into the architecture of the silk on the loom—not embroidered on top—the reverse is a clean reflection of the face, showcasing the density of the handwoven silk.
Why does Double Ikat have a "blurred" edge? +
The signature "blurred" edge (known as morgala) is the proof of the artisan's hand. It occurs because the threads are dyed before they reach the loom; as they meet during weaving, the slight alignment shifts create a soft, pulse-like geometry that machine-printing cannot replicate.
Where do the names Gyasar, Tanchoi, and Ikat originate? +
These names represent a global map of textile mastery: Gyasar originates from sacred ceremonial traditions, Tanchoi is an intricate technique that evolved through cross-cultural silk exchanges, and Ikat is a masterpiece of mathematical poetry found in various global heritage cultures.
What does "Small Batch Heritage Craft" actually mean? +
It means our limited-edition textiles cannot be rushed. A single cushion cover can take several days or even weeks to weave on a traditional handloom. We honor these ancestral speeds to ensure a level of detail and quality that mass-market luxury retailers cannot replicate.
Why are there slight variations in the weave or color? +
In the world of handwoven luxury silk, these are the "fingerprints" of the artisan. These subtle nuances in dye or thread tension are records of a human hand in dialogue with a loom, making every piece a one-of-a-kind original.
Can these heritage pieces be used daily? +
Absolutely. While they are heirlooms, heritage crafts like Tanchoi and Gyasar are inherently durable due to their high-denier silk and dense weave structures. They are designed to be lived with and cherished as functional art.
How do I care for my handwoven silk cushions? +
To preserve the luster of the natural silk and the integrity of the metallic thread, we recommend professional dry cleaning. Avoid direct, prolonged sunlight to maintain the vibrant luster of the hand-dyed yarns.