How to care for a jamdani saree

A jamdani is handwoven on a pit loom, often over months. The thread is fine cotton and the motifs are added by hand as the cloth is woven, which is why no two are identical — and why it needs different care from a mill-made sari.

Washing. Cold water, by hand, on its own. Never wring it. Press the water out between your palms or roll it in a towel. A mild detergent is fine; bleach and hot water are not.

Drying. In shade, never direct sun. Sunlight fades natural dyes faster than anything else you will do to it.

Storing. Fold along a different line every few months. A sari folded the same way for years develops permanent creases along the folds, and the cotton eventually splits there. Wrap it in cotton or muslin — not plastic, which traps moisture and invites mildew.

Done consistently, none of this takes more than a few minutes, and it is the difference between a sari that lasts five years and one that outlives you.