Hand-woven silk mashroo tote bag with metal chain strap and hand glass beaded horse motif.

12" x 12"

Mashroo is one of the oldest and finest textiles in India. It has said to have been developed during the 14th century. Mashroo was created to conform to the tenets of Islam which forbade silk to touch the skin. Weavers developed a fabric with a silk warp and cotton weft, where the cotton lays beneath and grazes the skin, while the silk floats on top. This enabled the ruling Islamic nobility to flaunt and wear the luxurious sheen of silk without breaking religious law.

Mashroo became a widely popular export to the Ottoman Empire. In Patan, Hindu merchants and traders also took a liking to this fabric and created adaptations of certain typical motifs, colors and tie-dye. Today, our mashroo is still woven in Patan with the few weavers who remain. 

Made by hand in Ahmedabad, India

Dry clean only