Cloth Memory
Every saree carries its own archive
A personal and historical record that lets the saree’s spirit and form travel across generations. Below is a sample: Asharfi Raniyah 04.
Welcome to Awalkhana · Weaver to Wearer
Awalkhana takes great pride and pleasure in presenting this saree to you. We are certain that you will cherish every moment and sentiment that will be made whenever it’s draped.
Our aim is to democratise heritage and heirloom creation. Hence, this hand-woven and handcrafted Chanderi saree comes with its cloth memory, a personal and historical archive.
We are deeply grateful to you for making it your own. May you always be drawn to Awalkhana!
With warm wishes, Rashmi for Awalkhana
Cloth Memory of
Asharfi Raniyah, 04
| Collection | Malakeh, Awalkhana’s ode to the Chanderi weaves |
|---|---|
| Designer | Rizwan Ahmad |
| Weaver | Izhaar Musaddi, Master Weaver |
| Provenance | Didua Mohalla, Bahar Sheher, Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh |
| Completed | 2026, a re-woven vintage heirloom of Rizwan’s family |
| Loom | Khaddi handloom, pit loom |
| Time on loom | 30 days |
| Fabric | Pure mashru silk, Bangalore silk warp and weft |
| Size | 5.5 m, 50 in width, with a 1 m blouse piece |
The saree it belongs to
A saree, and the record that goes with it
Each Cloth Memory is written for one saree: the weaver, the loom, the yarn and the hours, and the pages that later owners add. Here is Asharfi Raniyah 04, woven in mashru silk by Rizwan Ahmad.
Inside a Cloth Memory
What each saree comes with
The weaver’s registry
This saree belongs to the weaving centre of Rizwan Ahmad and his family, who are the fifth generation weaving Chanderi. The family’s material memory traces back to his great grandfather Sheikh Kallu, grandfather Abdul Hakim and father Abdul Jabbar, all master weavers under royal patronage.
The family settled in Didua Mohalla, Bahar Sheher after Partition and today preserves the do chashmi, a two-sided saree that takes two to three months on the loom.
Colour, motifs and design
A symmetrical asharfi checkered jaal saree with a light pista green body and a gold-silver zari border with hints of red and green. Every asharfi buti is woven with silver and gold zari intertwined, and the Mughal floral buti carries fine red meenakari.
The heritage care protocol
- WashingDry-clean only.
- FoldingNever sharp-fold. Sharp creases shear the delicate threads over time.
- StorageWrap in the unbleached muslin bag, or roll around a padded fabric roller. Avoid plastic bags and metal hangers.
- IroningNo direct hot iron on the zari. Use low steam on the reverse side under a clean white cotton sheet.
- FragranceNever apply perfume or ittar directly on the saree.
The lineage ledger
Each custodian writes the next chapter: name, date of acquisition, occasions worn, milestones and memories.
Memory keepsakes
- Photographs
- Invitation cards
- Handwritten notes
- Pressed flowers
- Newspaper clippings
- Wedding labels
- Travel notes
- Family recipes
- Fabric swatches
The restoration record
| Date | Nature of restoration | Artisan | Technique | Before / after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Meet the saree in person
Book an appointment to see the collection and talk through a Cloth Memory.
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