Sidra

SIDRA I

Handwoven Silk-Cotton Chanderi | 1,024 Buttas

The Textile
Sidra is an exploration of the refinement possible within the Chanderi handloom tradition, bringing together fine materials, restrained geometry and the extraordinary precision of hereditary weaving knowledge. Woven in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, the sari uses pure two-ply silk resham in the warp and fine pure 100s-count cotton in the weft, producing a textile of remarkable lightness, translucency and fluidity.

The Body,  1,024 Buttas
Against the deep, luminous purple ground are 1,024 individually woven diamond buttas, distributed rhythmically across the body. Small and finely articulated, the motifs catch the light almost like distant stars, creating richness without compromising the visual restraint characteristic of Chanderi. The repetition is deliberately disciplined, allowing the beauty of the weave itself to remain visible beneath the ornamentation.

The Border & Pallu
The body is framed by a traditional twill-woven band in gold zari, delicately accented with green, introducing a subtle interplay of colour, texture and geometry. The sari culminates in an elaborate pallu where diagonal creeper motifs create a sense of movement. The flowing botanical vocabulary of the pallu forms a considered counterpoint to the ordered geometry of the diamond buttas.

The Weavers & Their Heritage
Sidra is woven by Baseema Ansari and his wife, Saahistha Ansari, who work together at a single loom. The Ansaris belong to a long-established community of hereditary Muslim weavers whose contribution to the textile traditions of the Indian subcontinent extends across several centuries, with generational weaving knowledge associated with important centres including Chanderi, Banaras, Kota and other regions of Rajasthan and North and Central India.

The Making
Working together for approximately twelve hours each day, Baseema and Saahistha require around twelve days at the loom to complete a single Sidra I. The 1,024 buttas are therefore more than elements of ornamentation; collectively, they are a record of repeated acts of concentration, dexterity and accumulated knowledge. The finished sari brings material, design and human labour into a single woven expression, allowing the process of its making to become an intrinsic part of its value.

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