Tittilate with taant from TANGAIL SAREE KUTIR

For the past few decades Tangail Saree Kutir has been a stalwart in the Dhaka fashion scene. With its revival and constant reinvention of taant, along with many other traditional and local weaves, its founder Muneera Emdad is considered a genius. A quintessential Bengali weave, taant is light, thin-as-tissue cotton which is perfect for everyday wear in the humid summer days of our country. It requires no fussy care such as dry-cleaning; only the occasional starching and ironing to take care of the creases. It was relegated to the backgrounds for many years but Tangail Saree Kutir has made continuous and consistent efforts to revive the lost glory of this beautiful fabric, breathing life into it with bright colours, intricate patterns and motifs. Nowadays it has become a wardrobe staple for women of our country and beyond.

Located in a charming, three-storey building in Bailey Road, it has a wonderful, old-world nostalgia to it. The walls proudly display the various foreign dignitaries and celebrities who have shopped here in the past, making their significance and fame clear to the shoppers. Unlike the other fashion houses, it is crowded most of the time due to its sheer popularity and the high quality of their clothes. For Pohela Boishakh this year Tangail Saree Kutir has many options to offer.

Taant, the core collection has been designed keeping the central colour palette of red and white in mind, but it has variations such as contrast borders in orange and yellow to spice things up. The floral, geometrical motifs are all awash in such bright colours. The motifs are cleverly woven into the sari to give brilliant results. Prices begin from Tk.900 and this collection may be a great wardrobe solution for the hot, humid days of Boishakh ahead. For those who are young at heart and wish for something more vibrant, the block-printed saris are the perfect answer. The colour palette for this collection is extensive to the point of customers becoming spoiled for choice, and a little sparkle and shimmer is added by way of sequins and pailettes. The central design inspiration this year is alpona, the traditional Bengali decorative art form and its various avatars. The nature of this art form makes use of colourful, bold strokes in different motifs and shapes intrinsic to Bengali culture. Pohela Boishakh is the perfect foil for using alpona motifs in saris as young women tend to opt for colourful saris to celebrate the New Year. With cotton being the central fabric for this collection it is the perfect choice for a day out in the scorching sun.

The next collection boasts of the crown jewels of Bengali cultural heritage, muslin and jamdani.

The next collection boasts of the crown jewels of Bengali cultural heritage, muslin and jamdani. In Tangail Saree Kutir the muslin saris have been elevated to designing wonder by using special techniques to weave beautiful patterns into them. The design range is extensive, starting from retro polka dots to floral and paisley motifs. Keeping the upcoming festival in mind, red and white have been integrated in their otherwise muted colour palette. Some are embellished further with sequins and beads. These saris are perfect as eveningwear on Pohela Boishakh. Prices start from Tk.2700.  Jamdani saris on the other hand are a treat for those who prefer this ubiquitous Bengali weave. This range is also extensive in terms of designs and colours, and for Pohela Boishakh Muneera Emdad recommends white jamdanis with borders in contrast colours such as red, orange, yellow or green. If you really wish to stand out then options such as parrot green may be the right choice for you. Some of these saris have booti strewn all over, while others have the signature floral and geometric patterns on them. Prices range from Tk.5,000 to Tk.50,000, depending on the design.

Ever since its inception Tangail Saree Kutir has been steadily providing beautiful, traditional weaves to the fashionable women both at home and abroad. The simplicity of their garments, yet the profound statements they project make them truly one of a kind. This Boishakh, visit one of their branches (located in Bailey Road and Gulshan 2) and you won't be disappointed.