Cotton, rayon, chanderi or silk: choosing a kurta fabric
4 min read
For daily wear: cotton and rayon
Cotton breathes well and gets softer with washing, which makes it the safest choice for summer and for long days. Rayon drapes more smoothly and holds colour well, but it can shrink, so wash it cold and dry it in shade.
For functions: chanderi and silk blends
Chanderi is light with a gentle sheen, so it looks dressy without feeling heavy. Silk and silk blends look the richest but need dry cleaning and are warm to wear. For a daytime function in hot weather, chanderi is usually more comfortable than silk.
Check before you buy
Read the fabric composition, not only the product name. Look for whether the kurta is lined, because light colours in thin fabric can be see-through. If the listing does not say how to wash it, assume hand wash.
More guides
- How to find your kurta sizeThe three measurements to take and how to read a size chart properly.
- Straight, A-line or anarkali: kurta shapes explainedWhat each cut looks like, what it pairs with and when to wear it.
- How to wash printed cotton so the colours lastFirst-wash steps for block prints and dark colours, and how to dry and iron them.
- Bandhani, leheriya, ajrakh and block print: Indian prints explainedHow four well-known textile crafts are made and how to recognise them.
- How to choose a chaniya choli for garbaFabric, flare, weight and length: what makes a chaniya choli comfortable to dance in.
