Beauty and Fashion

Fabcurate.com: Your search for beautiful fabric ends here!

Custom, bespoke fabrics can definitely make an impression and help you stand out from the crowd. Whether it comes to furnishing or clothing, the fabrics you choose allow you to express your individuality and taste. They become a form of self expression. I believe in investing in high quality pieces that break away from the mundane and are timeless. That’s why; I enjoyed shopping with Fabcurate.com recently. Let’s dive into my complete and honest review of buying fabrics from Fabcurate, an online fabric shopping destination in India.

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About Fabcurate

Fabcurate, an online fabric store, was born with the sole purpose of curating the best fabrics for people who don’t consider their fabrics as just another “stash”. We look at fabrics as collections, to be used, admired, and to be taken care of like any valuable thing. At Fabcurate, we facilitate all the designers out there to create anything of their imagination using an array of premium quality fabrics curated specially for you. These fabrics are sourced directly from traditional fabric merchants who are the masters of traditional craft.

Browsing experience at Fabcurate

Fabcurate’s website is designed well and is easy to browse. I like how every fabric comes with its very own ‘Fabric Estimator’. It has definitely saved me from ordering too much or too little fabric for my projects. The description box is useful and offers care instructions, quality, width and other details for every fabric. Definitely comes in handy when you are shopping for new and interesting fabrics. Sometimes, I have noticed a slight lag in the website while loading images which can be a little annoying but it is not unforgivable.

If you are looking to order fabrics in larger quantities or simply want to understand the quality, I would encourage you to order their fabric book. It is a bit pricey at Rs. 149 but it will help you make better decisions. You can visit Fabcurate here.

Fabcurate fabric collection

The Fabcurate collection is trendy, traditional, chic, boho or anything else you want it to be. They have used a range of art forms and techniques such as weaving, embroidery, tie and dye, shibori, ikat, kalamkari and many others to keep their collection fresh. They frequently collaborate with artisans to showcase India’s rich textile heritage. Overall, I am quite happy and in awe of the collection available. It can be a little intimidating when you are shopping the first time as the sheer number of designs can overwhelm you. Whenever that happens, I fill my cart with everything that catches my fancy and then whittle it down the next day.

I am pleased with the fact that one can order as little as 0.5 meters of fabric to up to 50 meters in one go.

Now, besides thousands of options available on their website you can also custom make your very own fabric. Fill out their contact form with your details and design and Fabcurate’s team will call you back for next steps.

Fabcurate: Packaging and Delivery

My online fabric shopping package arrived in less than a week once I placed the order. They were securely delivered by Delhivery. On opening the package, it was nice to see all my fabrics kept in a cotton bag.

Fabcurate: Quality, Price points and Return Policy

I ordered 5 pieces of fabric in a range of styles and designs from this online fabric store in Surat. I got hand block printed fabric, Madhubani designs on silk, digital printing on Japanese satin and digital prints on butter crepe fabric. Now, I was apprehensive about ordering fabrics online, especially since Fabcurate’s return policy is not good. However, my gamble paid off and all the fabrics turned out to be great. I have started using them to stitch a breezy dress and also for home decor. Have a look!

If you are not happy with the fabric you purchased, you can return it to Fabcurate if the product is damaged, not the same as the images shown on the website and if the size is more than 3 meters and less than 15 meters. They offer free reverse pick up. Like I said above, their return policy leaves a lot to be desired.

As a wholesale fabric online shopping destination, Fabcurate is a great choice. They are affordable and have quality products at a decent price point comparable to local markets.

Fabcurate: Last thoughts

Online fabric shopping can be stressful but I enjoyed my overall shopping experience Fabcurate. The sheer amount of designs they have on offer will make you feel like a kid in a candy store. This definitely makes it one of the best places to buy fabric online in India. I love the mix of modern and traditional prints and art forms they use in their collection. The quality of fabric, designs, shopping experience and customer service were fabulous. I do hope their return policy changes in the near future. If you are looking to shop for fabrics online, Fabcurate is your destination.

7 Reasons why Flowers make for the perfect gift for every occasion

I adore receiving flowers as a present. A single rose or a bouquet of sunflowers; I love them all. They brighten up my day with their vibrant hues and bring joy to my life. If a bouquet of flowers arrives unexpectedly then you will find me giggling, humming and floating in the clouds throughout the day. I am not alone; I know that many people, like me, love receiving flowers. With the services for flower delivery online available easily, and with the array of flowers to choose from, read on to know our 7 reasons has to why do they make for the perfect gift for any and every occasion!

Mood boosters!

Flowers have a great fragrance, and that directly affects both your mind as well as the psychology. They make one feel joyous and happy.

For every occasion

Had a fight and want to make up for it, flowers. Want to profess your love for somebody? Send in flowers. Want to tell somebody that you are thinking of them? Send in flowers! Every bouquet is unique and specially handcrafted for our loved one. Each flower symbolizes something and therefore is special in its own unique way.

Thoughtful

Giving someone flowers indicates that the person gifting it spent a considerable amount of time into deciding the gift, and also, based upon what flower you choose, and the arrangements that you come up with, it casts an impression on the receiver. This especially holds true when it is more like an official and formal gift that you are presenting someone with.

Budget-friendly

Of all the things that you’d want to gift, we bet flowers will turn out to be the closest to being within a budget and yet, it is something special. A bouquet can fit in any budget, plus, you could have it delivered with flower delivery online available almost 24 hours.

Hassle free, and easily available!

Flower delivery online has always got everyone’s back. For all the last minute options, and for times when you don’t want to think too much into getting a gift, then go with flowers, they will always spread cheer and joy.

Instant smiles, guaranteed

Sometimes it can get difficult trying to remember who is allergic to what and shouldn’t be gifted anything edible or the kind of jewellery that somebody loves. It is heartbreaking to give a gift to somebody only to find that they didn’t quite like it. With flowers, instant smiles are guaranteed!

Everybody loves flowers

Flowers evoke strong emotions in people. A red rose is symbolic of deep love, daisy paired with ferns symbolizes cheerfulness and sincerity and sunflowers signify sincerity, longevity and loyalty. Many people also associate special memories with flowers like marigolds for wedding and roses for the first date. Basically, we believe that everybody loves flowers and that’s what makes them the ideal gift!

Convinced? Go gift your loved one a bouquet and revel in the joy you bring to their day!

Poochampally Sarees: Then and Now

Geometric patterns interspersed with ikat dyeing which is handcrafted by weavers who can take up to 10 days to weave a sari, Poochampally Sarees have a long and interesting story. Did you know that these sarees are the official uniform for the cabin crew of Air India? I have lots of interesting facts about Poochampally sarees and I am sure you would love to know more.

Origin and History

The name Pochampally silk originates from the small town of Pochampally from Chirala. The weavers of this town followed their traditional weaving methods which gave the garment an unrivalled quality, giving the early saree an exotic look with unmatched beauty. With time, the Pochampally silk sarees have gained popularity and the industry has grown. Which is why; it was adopted as a full-time business by almost a thousand families present in the town. As modernization came in, these sarees were produced much faster and in a more precise manner without any errors, eventually increasing the demand in the market.

Weaving and Design Process of Pochampally sarees

the biggest selling point of this saree is its amazing smoothness and precise designer finish which makes it so attractive. There are different types of fabrics which are used to make this saree and later on infused with beautiful designs, patterns, and colours to give it a great look. Another reason because of which people spend so much money to buy this saree is its exemplary perfection of designs and colour combinations. Even though machines are used to produce these sarees nowadays, it still requires a manual labour force to make sure they have been produced in the best way possible. Each saree takes almost 10 days to make.

Why every woman should own a Pochampally saree

They are extremely light and very comfortable to wear. Since many women wear sarees on a regular basis, these can be a perfect choice for any occasion. During the summer it is a very hectic and stressful task to manage a day in saree because they are covering and makes a woman feel really hot and uncomfortable. But Pochampally silk sarees are very soothing to wear and easy to manage during the summers as well. The beautiful designs and enigmatic look makes it a perfect wear for any kind of special occasion as well. Thus it is a saree for every occasion you go to.

My favourite Pochampally Sarees

There are several Pochampally sarees to choose from but here are the top 3 choices that you can make from Bharatsthali.

Aishani

made with amazing traditional design styles and infused with beautiful colour coding making a perfect choice when you want to wear something sober but colourful at the same time.

Amodini

if you love pink and green, then this saree has both the colours mixed in a beautiful pattern. Its large booti pallu makes it a perfect wear for a special event.

Dhuni

covered with a royal colour i.e. Royal blue, this saree is perfect for those who want a bold but vibrant look as well. Being a perfect formal wear it maintains the beautiful Pochampally design on it as well.

Must have Tussar Silk Sarees

There was a heavy wooden trunk that my grandmother owned contained her most precious possessions, her silk saree collection. I remember the teeming glow on her face as she would speak to me nostalgically about the particular events she had worn each saree. The saree she prized the most of all was a beautiful Tussar Silk saree, known in Sanskrit as the Kosa Silk saree. With its rich texture and natural gold overtones, Tussar Silk Sarees come in four varieties; Katia, Ghhichha, Thigh reeled and machine reeled.

The story of how it is produced is fascinating and I am sure you would like to know more.

How is Tussar Silk made?

Tussar Silk also called Kosa Silk is obtained from silk worms that breed in the wild on Sal and Saja trees. The species that produce the cocoon are Antheraea Mylitta, Antheraca Proylei, Antherea Pernyi and Antheraca Yamamai. The cocoon is boiled to extract the silk. While this is important aspect of the process, in many parts of India Tussar Silk is produced in a more nonviolent way i.e. cocoons are collected only after larvae have left them thus giving it yet another name, the Ahimsa Silk.
Jharkhand is famous for its sericulture and the tribals are renowned for their skills at weaving silk. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Orissa and Chattisgarh also produce Tussar Silk.

What makes Tussar silk unique?

Tussar Silk sarees have a natural texture, gold overtones and are also more porous. This means that the fabric is breathable and it is comfortable to wear even during the summers.

How to Maintain a the fabric?

Tussar has shorter fibres than mulberry silk which makes it less durable. That is why; it is important to take special care of this fabric.

They are very delicate and it is recommended that you dry clean them. Never hang the sarees out in the sun as the colours might fade.

These sarees need to breathe, so it is advisable to not keep them in plastic bags. You can use simple cloth bags instead.

My top 5 favourite Tussar Silk Sarees are:

The Pinsaki

Craftsmanship at its best, I love the contrast colours and the pretty border used to make this Tussar Silk look contemporary and stylish.

The Rajivakshi

The traditional green and gold combination coupled with the pretty motifs, the Rajivakshi is inspired by nature. A beautiful saree for all occasions.

The Ravipriya

Beige and gold is a classic and an elegant combination which has been given a little pop of colour through its pretty pink border!

The Dweepa

The sarees are being given a modern touch by printing modern art, animals and floral prints. Dweepa showcases a true blend of traditional colours and modern designs.

The Ekavaktra

A pure raw silk saree in grey is truly unique and therefore makes a great style statement at family gatherings. It breaks away from the traditional colours by blending specks of dull red around the pallu. I must say, I am partial to this one.

Nature inspired motifs, delicate hand embroidery and a fabric that is airy and comfortable, Tussar Silk sarees are perfect for every occasion. I have one in my wardrobe, would you like to get one, too?

You could read more about Bharatsthali’s unique collection of sarees here.

Have any questions about Tussar silk? Let me know in the comments below.

image credits: Wikimedia Commons

Reviving handloom clothing

We live in an age of mass manufacturing where the creative art of handloom clothing has been substituted by mechanised factory production. In this way many talented and dextrous local craftsmen are fading into obscurity.

We all have experienced the alienated feel of cheap mass produced clothing. Given a chance, what would you choose to wear?

Would you prefer Machine produced garments at dirt-cheap prices that are created for a single body type and which don’t even last a wash at most times?

Would you prefer the Gorgeous handloom sarees made by weavers who are gifted with traditional knowledge of crafting, designing, warping and wefting which makes every single piece that they produce a unique work of art?

I know your choice won’t be much different from my own.

Yes, the slow fashion movement where one focuses on bespoke garments with quality workmanship and aesthetic designs that are timeless is the way to go. The handloom saree weavers of India symbolise this movement which values and prizes finesse and handiwork. It is steeped in quality, tradition and love for all things handmade.

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A Return To Tradition

I must tell you the story of the start of my love for handlooms. It first awakened during my visit to a saree-weaving unit in Kerala a few years. I watched in awe as skilful traditional artisans used threads of white and gold to weave inch after inch of magical cloth. The attire they produced felt so full of life unlike contemporary machine made clothes which are so alienated from human craftsmanship.

I fell head over heels in love with handloom sarees. Ever since that day I began enjoying looking for brands that reflect the slow fashion movement and that bring handlooms from traditional artisans into our lives. In my search for some fabulous handloom sarees for this summer, I came across Bharatsthali.com.

What is Bharat Sthali?

If there is a one stop treasure trove to buy traditional handloom sarees online I would have to admit that Bharatsthali is the place to go. You are taken on a journey through the heritage of Indian traditional wear with an opportunity to learn and feel the diverse beauty of every region. Time travel through the passages of history and discover the finest of crafts and the best of weaving with us. Bringing together the textile designers, artisanal communities, weavers and artists, here’s a contemporary platform that meets the delightful treasures and doesn’t fade them out.

Since I have introduced you to this beautiful platform I must also tell you a little about Bharat Sthali’s collection. Let me show you my top 5 awe-inspiring sarees and my take on what makes them incredible!

Hansaja

Bharatsthali.com — Hansaja by Bharat Sthali

Emerald, blue, yellow and white woven to form a simple pattern which is perfect for the day and can be complemented with beautiful silver jewellery. These are the intricate beauties of the Hansaja saree.

Anvitha

The intricately handwoven blouse that makes this pretty red silk kanjivaram saree come to life. Staying true to its rich heritage, the saree is adorned with beautiful red and gold motifs on its green pallu.

Sargun

saris by bharatsthali.com — Sargun by Bharat Sthali

Who doesn’t love tassels and I must say that a tassel border along the contrast pink piping brings this ‘Sargun’ to live. This pure linen saree is soft, beautiful and perfect for the summers.

Aarunya

Aarunya embodies the true spirit of slow fashion and handloom. Artisans spend 5 days to painstakingly create this boota work saree for you. Hues of teal, arctic blue and violet blended with delicate gold work truly make this saree stand out. It is truly a tribute to the rich heritage of the south and is perfect for contemporary Indian women.

Siahi

This saree from Bharat Sthali naturally dyed and Ikat which is an interesting blend of jute pallu and linen. The colours used are cool blues, shades of pink with a sprinkling of green which reminds one of a spring garden. I love the modern colours used in this saree.

Manjusha

This sari has been handmade in the villages of Southern India keeping in mind the women of today who balances modernity with tradition.

It takes inspiration from conventional techniques and combines it with the modern colours like inky black, dull gold, bright green and deep pink to create a new age look.

Don’t you love the creative names that Bharat Sthali has given to each saree?

My personal favourites are Sargun and Siahi. I love their flowy fabric and pretty designs that look modern, stylish yet are traditional in its true essence. Which is your favourite saree from Bharat Sthali? What do you think about handcrafted garments? Let me know in the comments below 🙂