Banarasi By Nikita*

Banarasi By Nikita believes in celebrating and preserving master craftsmanship and endeavours to create products that withstand the test of time.

My inspiration for the brand name came from this City Benares also own as the Holy City of India Varanasi

“Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” Mark Twain.

The sacred city of Banaras - Kashi, in religious scriptures - has been known as a famous weaving center in India since time immemorial. An epicenter of the arts, learning, philosophy, music and religion, this city has attracted travellers and scholars from all over the world. It has enchanted Hindu saints, Sikh gurus, Buddhist monks, Mughal rulers, music virtuosos and celebrated poets alike.

Kashi has been acknowledged through religious scriptures and Buddhist history (Jataka tales) as a famous weaving and trade centre in ancient times.

Originally fabricated solely for royalty, the Banarasi is imbued with a rich history that echoes through its weaves. It is renowned for its unique weaving style, which is attributed to the weavers of Banaras.

Persian, Mughal, and Central Asian influences dominate the brocades that we see in the present day. This weaving style, now collectively known as the Banarasi weave, has been impacted by numerous foreign influences and improvised by multiple indigenous techniques. Banaras’ weaving industry absorbed the weaving skills and techniques from all over India and beyond, and reached its peak during the Mughal era under the patronage of Emperor Akbar. It was during the Mughal period in the 14th century that weavers from Banaras established their presence in the industry by creating unique and intricate silk brocades using silver and gold zari threads. The Banarasi weave started receiving more appreciation and developed proficiency during the 18th and 19th centuries.

We are the Banarasi weaving technique, where three coloured yarns run continuously without a break. For us, it stands for our three ideals:

• Pure - We only use natural materials in our products for lasting quality and luxury.
• Handmade- Every piece is handmade, and is the product of our deep knowledge and understanding of the craft.
• Banaras- Rooted in Banaras, we take great pride in carrying forward this historic city’s legacy of skilled craftsmanship.

Born in Banaras, We brings the beauty and cultural wisdom of age-old craftsmanship of Banaras to the world. With our range of handwoven textiles and made-by-hand products, rooted in the region’s artisanal traditions,We preserves heritage and fosters a strong sense of cultural identity and pride.