Natural dyed handspun Eri Silk shawl with Kalamkari from Sri Kalahasthi.

Loa is wearing Mustangi. She is one of the rare female trekking guides in Nepal. I am proud of her for her mountain spirit that is so light and alert, confident and caring, absorbent and radiating. She is from Lo Mustang so I named this sari Mustangi!

Mustang brings together Eri silk and Kalamkari. Both I love working with!

Eri Silk is a wild silk with a woolly fibrous filament hand spun into yarn, handwoven on traditional throw shuttle looms of Assam. These are woven on looms that are simplified older looms where the basic main frame is formed using four posts or pillars dug steadfastly into the mud ground. This Eri Silk is handspun by adept spinners of Assam without using Charkha. The journey from cocoons to handspun yarn involves a spinner performing a series of steps for the appropriate treatment of cocoons that can enable hand spinning of yarn. These steps have remained unchanged through generations of the hand-spinning culture of Assam. We have retained the indigenous steps without much alteration.

 It is elegant in drape, and subtle in appearance and the texture of the fabric does not carry the obvious lustre that we typically associate with silk. Eri Silk being a protein fibre absorbs most natural dyes.

Kalamkari is crafted in Sri Kalahasthi.

Mustangi is a one-of-a-kind textile designed to highlight a unique coming together of various techniques and creativity of handcraft. This design will not be recreated. Mustangi comes with a blouse fabric designed to encourage Mora fireflies to bring their authentic spirit to the fabrication of blouse fit, usage of borders and edgings. The blouse worn by Loa is not included.

Kalamkari from A. Subbarao

Param did the beadwork 

Gurmail, the tailor

Narmohan Dada, the master Eri silk pioneer

Mumma, Madhu, technical supervision of stitching 

Midtoan.com, the photographer

Designed by Ritika