Handblock Kalamkari Border Cotton Top (Navy Blue ) | Save>40%

Handblock Kalamkari Border Cotton Top in Navy Blue — Indigo Heritage, Contemporary Comfort

Navy blue and Kalamkari are a natural pairing — the craft’s most celebrated dye is indigo, and indigo’s most iconic shade is the deep, authoritative navy that looks equally polished in a meeting room or a heritage market. This Handblock Kalamkari Border Cotton Top in Navy Blue brings together a clean cotton silhouette with a hand-block printed Kalamkari border at the neckline and hem, the warm earthy tones of the motifs creating a sophisticated contrast against the cool navy ground.

The Craft — Block Printing and Natural Indigo

Kalamkari block printing from Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, is one of India’s GI-protected textile arts. Artisans use hand-carved wooden blocks to apply natural dyes — including indigo derived from the Indigofera tinctoria plant — in carefully sequenced layers. The navy ground of this top comes from deep indigo immersion; the border motifs are overprinted in madder (rust/brick), pomegranate (gold), and iron-mordant (charcoal). On a navy base, the warm earthy accents of the Kalamkari border are particularly vivid, making the contrast between ground and motif the visual centrepiece of the garment. Each block is carved by hand and used by a single artisan; over time, the blocks develop micro-wear that makes their prints slightly unique — no two tops are quite identical.

Features & Specifications

• Fabric: 100% pure cotton — breathable, all-season, skin-friendly
• Technique: Handblock Kalamkari printing using natural dyes; border placement at neckline and hem
• Colour: Deep navy blue with warm earth-tone Kalamkari border
• Sizes available: S (Bust 40″), M (Bust 42″), L (Bust 44″)
• Fit: Straight relaxed cut — versatile for casual and semi-formal wear
• Weight: Approx. 230g
• Care: Hand wash in cold water; dry in shade; iron on low heat; first wash separately

Perfect For

Navy blue is universally flattering and professionally appropriate — a colour that works at the office, at a cultural event, at a friend’s mehendi, and at an airport with equal ease. This top is a travelling wardrobe’s best friend: lightweight cotton, wrinkle-resistant enough for overnight bags, and interesting enough that it carries the day without accessories. Style it with white cotton trousers and silver kolhapuris for a crisp ethnic look; or pair with wide-leg linen trousers and minimal jewellery for a contemporary office outfit. For evenings, add a bandhani dupatta and statement jhumkas and it becomes fully festive. Perfect for Eid, Independence Day, casual Navratri, or any occasion where navy’s quiet authority serves well.

Heritage Section — Machilipatnam Kalamkari

Machilipatnam (also called Masulipattnam), a historic port city in Andhra Pradesh, has been a centre of textile trade and Kalamkari printing since at least the 16th century. Persian and Dutch merchants who traded here took Kalamkari cloth back to their courts, where it was prized as “Indiennes” — Indian printed cotton. The GI-protected Machilipatnam style is distinguished by its use of block printing rather than the pen-drawing of the Srikalahasti style, allowing for greater production while maintaining the handcraft’s natural-dye integrity. The border motifs on this top — typically geometric bands, stylised peacocks, and lotus scrolls — draw directly from this coastal temple-art tradition, adapted for the contemporary garment market while remaining true to the natural-dye process.

What’s in the Box

• 1 × Handblock Kalamkari Border Cotton Top (Navy Blue)
• Available in sizes S, M, L