Black & Maroon Silk Itajime Dune Robe

Enchanting Black & Maroon Silk Itajime Dune Robe for women, is cut from luxurious silk with an open-front silhouette. The deep black and maroon palette gives the robe a rich, expressive character, while the one-size construction creates an easy, relaxed layer that moves naturally with the body. Made using the traditional Itajime clamp-dye technique. For those drawn to a long silk kimono robe with an artistic edge, the smooth silk and generous drape make this piece an effortless addition to pared-back separates, evening dresses or relaxed occasion dressing. Its expressive palette and handcrafted finish bring a quietly dramatic dimension to sustainable women's fashion. 

Story Behind the Design

The Itajime Silk Collection has been hand-crafted in the workshop of two of India's foremost Master Craftsmen; Jabbar and brother Abdullah Khatri from Bhuj, Gujarat.

Shibori is a 1300 year old tie and dye technique developed in Japan involving the folding and clamping or otherwise securing of fabric prior to dyeing. Itajime is one technique of shibori which uses pieces of wood clamped together around sections of folded fabric to resist the dye in particular shapes. Each 3m section of fabric is individually folded, clamped, tied and dyed; and this repeated several times to get layers of colours. It's a time consuming and exacting technique with bold geometric results.

In Bhuj, clamp dye techniques came into practice around 35 years ago. During that time, clamp dyeing techniques were used on traditional lungis (sarongs) to produce various designs. This was a short-lived trend, however and the technique went out of use after some 5 years. The Khatri brothers re-introduced the process in Bhuj and now create some of the finest itajime, clamp-dyed textiles in India.

Any variations or irregularities are part of the design and inherent to the production process.