When we started building Kashié, one of the first things we realised was how little most of us actually know about silk. We grow up surrounded by it, at weddings, in our mothers' wardrobes, at every festival, but ask what makes tissue different from organza and most people pause.
So here's the simple version. Four Indian silks, what makes each one special, and where you'll find them in our first collection, The Golden Hour.
1. Tissue silk
Tissue silk is woven with fine metallic threads (zari) running through the silk, which gives it a soft, almost liquid shimmer. It's light, it catches every bit of light in the room, and it has a gentle crispness that holds shape beautifully.
How it feels: light, smooth, with a subtle structure.
Best for: pieces that need to glow without feeling heavy.
Our Élan Corset is made in ivory tissue silk with woven golden motifs.
2. Organza silk
Organza is sheer, airy and crisp. It's a fine, tightly woven fabric that's translucent but stands away from the body, which is why it's loved for volume, sleeves and layering.
How it feels: featherlight and slightly stiff.
Best for: romantic sleeves, overlays and statement details.
Our Opaline Corset is made in a pastel ombre organza silk, so the colour shifts differently across every piece.
3. Brocade silk
Brocade is where the pattern is woven into the fabric itself, not printed on top. Extra threads are worked into the weave to create raised motifs, often with zari. Banaras is famous for it, and Banarasi brocade is one of India's best-known textile traditions.
How it feels: rich, with more body and texture than plain silk.
Best for: structured silhouettes and festive dressing.
You'll find brocade in our Juliet Dress, in a champagne blush pink, and in The Glacé Set, launching soon.
4. Cotton silk
Cotton silk blends the breathability of cotton with the lustre of silk. It's softer and easier to wear for long hours than pure silk, while still having that gentle sheen.
How it feels: soft, breathable, with a quiet glow.
Best for: pieces you'll want to wear all day, or all night.
Our Lumina Dress is made in cotton silk handwoven by artisans in Varanasi, and the Ivy Draped Corset is in a deep-green cotton silk with zari motifs.
Quick comparison
- Tissue silk: shimmer, light, softly structured
- Organza silk: sheer, crisp, voluminous
- Brocade silk: woven patterns, rich, structured
- Cotton silk: soft, breathable, subtle sheen
How to care for your silk
Follow the care label on your piece. In general, store silk folded in a breathable cotton bag, away from direct sunlight and moisture, and spray perfume before you get dressed rather than onto the fabric.
Why we work with silk
Each of these fabrics carries generations of craft. Our idea with Kashié is simple: keep the fabric, change the silhouette. Corsets, co-ords and dresses you'd actually wear today, made in textiles that have been part of Indian wardrobes for centuries.