Every woven fabric has a warp, the longitudinal threads of the fabric, and a weft, the threads that go horizontally across. Satin is a loosely bound weave where the weft yarn passes over one warp thread and then skips the next few warp threads before passing over another. The effect is a fabric that is smooth and shiny on one side. Mashru, a handwoven satin fabric traditional to Gujarat, has silk yarn in the warp and cotton in the weft, so the satin effect is augmented with the sheen of silk. 

The literal meaning of “mashru is “permitted”. In Islamic tradition, silk was not supposed to be worn against the skin, but with mashru, the silk is mostly on the outside and the cotton forms the inside layer.

Mashru was once a luxury silk that was exported to parts of Africa and Central Asia. Today unfortunately, the skill required to weave original mashru is nearly lost and the only satin weaves practiced among the weaver community of Gujarat is pure cotton or cotton with viscose.

Fabric Care: Gentle handwash or dry clean.