Indian Silk Brocade, a noble and timeless fabric

Timeless and iconic, silk brocade is the most popular form of brocade. 

Its smoothness, durability, and luxurious feel make it an essential fashion fabric for an elegant style. We, at Orient 499, are continuously in search of the finest selection of textiles. By sourcing our silk brocade from Indian craftswomen and craftsmen, we support India’s rich artisanal heritage and promote sustainable and conscious fashion. 

Technique and patterns 

Brocade is a patterned woven fabric on silk with a raised design that is usually made with gold or silver threads. The patterns are created with additional weft threads during the weaving process and not stitched on after the fabric has been completed like in the embroidery technique, resulting in the embossed or embroidered look. 

Motifs are inspired by nature, arts, monuments, statues, temples and daily utility items. Their beauty lies  in their dimension. Some of the motifs are widely adopted and became popular across the world. Brocade weaves vary in complexity, the simplest pattern consists of a single added color. Complex patterns can look like a veritable kaleidoscope of multicolored threads. 

From Middle Ages to date 

Silk Brocade emerged during the Middle Ages and was a popular luxury fabric across the world, worn in many different empires and countries including China, India, Greece, Byzantium, Japan, and Korea. Brocade was the symbol of nobility and power, worn only by the wealthiest people. It is said that it was during the 6th century AD, that intrepid monks from the Byzantine Empire successfully  smuggled the secrets of sericulture (silk-making) out of China. 

  Metropolitan Museum ©

Byzantine brocade was the default apparel of the nobility throughout Europe and Central Asia, and China maintained its stronghold of brocade trade throughout East Asia. Brocade fabric remained reasonably  popular among the European nobility throughout the late Middle Ages, and enjoyed a major revival in  Renaissance Italy. It then lost its popularity as the Renaissance period came to an end, and remained a default material for décor. It enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in women’s clothing during the Victorian era. Today silk brocade is the perfect fabric in slow fashion for a distinctive and sophisticated style.  

Pursuing our textile journey 

We aim at bringing you the taste of traditions and a pop of contemporary style through the conscious selection of sumptuous Indian silk brocade. We reach the most remote places in India in search of local artisans “weaving fairy tales” in their fabrics and offering you a multitude of moods to suit every occasion.