BONGONIKETAN Blog

Batik is an intricate and traditional textile art form practiced in West Bengal and many other parts of the world. It involves a meticulous process of decorating fabric using a combination of hot wax and colourful dyes. The creation of batik is broadly a three stage process of waxing, dyeing and de-waxing (removing the wax). There are also several sub-processes like preparing the cloth, tracing the designs, stretching the cloth on the frame, waxing the area of the cloth that does not need dyeing, preparing the dye, dipping the cloth in dye, boiling the cloth to remove wax and washing the...

    The earliest documentation of the tant saree can be traced back to the 15th Century, in Shantipur, a village in the Nadia district of West Bengal. It especially thrived during the Mughal period, where it received immense support from the royalty with muslin and jamdani. However, after the British colonized India, they attempted to erase this craft to safeguard the Manchester textile industry’s agenda.  Skillfully woven using locally-sourced pure cotton, the threads are first thoroughly washed with water to remove contaminants. The cotton is then dried in the sun and sent to be bleached and dyed. After the...

The cocoons of the silkworm Bombyx mori are raised by farmers who wait till the metamorphosis to complete. The mature moth hatches out of the cocoon leaving behind broken silk fires. These fibres are collected, unwound and pilled on a clay pot or MATKA. That is how it got it name. These several broken short yarns are handspun without removing its gum (Sericin) giving it a slightly uneven texture, sheen, subtle luster and natural sheen. Although, it is slightly thicker than any conventional silk but is low density fibre making it light weight, soft and feather like. This silk is...

In West Bengal, the term "Shakha" typically refers to a white conch shell bangle. The Shakha is traditionally made from the conch shell found in the Indian Ocean and is worn by married Hindu women, particularly those belonging to the Bengali community. It is worn along with another bangle called the "Pola," which is made of red coral. Together, the Shakha and Bala signify the married status of a woman and are considered auspicious and sacred. The practice of wearing a Shakha in West Bengal is primarily rooted in cultural and religious traditions rather than scientific reasons. It holds symbolic and social...

It’s time to embrace slow fashion now. Check out the simple steps to last your clothing long ! These steps can be applied for every priced clothing possessions like Saree, Kurti, Dupatta, Blouse, Wedding Lehenga, Dress, Men's Kurta and more.    Check out the simple step in which you can reduce the stiffness in your starched clothing without damaging it.1. For heavily starched clothing, add half a cup of distilled white vinegar to a bucket of cold water and soak it for 20 minutes. Then rinse, dry and steam iron.2. If you want remove the starch completely, then soak the apparel...