Handspun Endi Silk Saree

Endi (eri) is one of the three silks Bengal has long produced, alongside mulberry and tasar. The worms feed on castor leaves and spin open-ended cocoons that the moth is usually allowed to leave, so the fibre can't be reeled into one long thread — it is spun instead, often by hand on a charka, which is why endi is sometimes called peace silk. Ours is spun by village spinners in Bangladesh's north and woven on handlooms in Natore, one of the Rajshahi Division towns where endi cloth is woven today. The result is quite unlike shiny silk: a matt, slightly cottony surface, a weightier drape and a softness that is warm on a winter evening yet breathes in the heat. Plain body, a narrow self-stripe border and a tasselled anchal — a quiet saree for people who love texture.

Fabric

Hand-spun endi (eri) silk, handloom, 12 haat (≈5.5 m) + blouse piece

Origin

Natore (yarn spun in northern Bangladesh)

• Dry clean, or hand wash in cold water with a mild shampoo
• Do not wring or soak for long; dry flat in shade
• Iron warm on the reverse while slightly damp
• Store folded in a cotton or muslin cloth, away from damp