Fabric School — TARINÉ

Mulmul / Muslin

Mulmul / Muslin
Made of	100% cotton, loosely woven plain weave. One of the oldest textiles in the world. If you have ever picked up a saree and thought “this is impossibly light” — it was probably mulmul.
Feel	The softest cotton there is — cool, light, slightly translucent. Barely registers as weight against the skin.
How it wears	Drapes itself naturally with minimal management. Ideal for long daily wear. Soft pleats that suit the fabric.
Wash	Machine wash cold 30°C on a gentle cycle, or hand wash.
Dry	Hang in shade or lay flat. Not the tumble dryer.
Iron	Medium heat while slightly damp. Wrinkles come out quickly.
Weight	40–60 GSM. A standard cotton shirt is around 140 GSM — mulmul is less than half that. TARINÉ mulmul sarees may be slightly sheer; this is normal and part of what the fabric is.
Origin	West Bengal · Erode, Tamil Nadu · Chandni Chowk, Delhi
Best for	Rozana · Aarambh · Warm weather · Long hours of wear

Cotton Voile
Made of	100% cotton, plain weave with a slightly higher thread count than mulmul. Crisper hand and more defined structure — still very light.
Feel	Cool, paper-like crispness. Smooth and light against the skin — more structured than mulmul without the cling.
How it wears	Cleaner, more defined pleats than mulmul. Holds shape well through a long day without adjustment.
Wash	Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle.
Dry	Hang in shade. Dries quickly.
Iron	Medium heat while slightly damp. The crispness recovers easily.
Weight	50–70 GSM — same lightweight range as mulmul, but with more definition from the tighter weave.
Origin	Erode, Tamil Nadu · Ahmedabad, Gujarat · Chandni Chowk, Delhi
Best for	Rozana · Aarambh · Warm weather · First-time wearers who want slightly more structure than mulmul

Khadi Cotton
Made of	100% cotton — yarn hand-spun on a charkha, fabric hand-woven on a handloom. Every metre is slightly irregular and entirely individual.
Feel	Slight roughness from the handspun yarn — honest and tactile. Not slippery, not silky, not crisp. Softens considerably after a few washes.
How it wears	Heavier than mulmul. Holds pleats reasonably well. Suits occasions where you want the fabric to feel substantial.
Wash	Machine wash gentle, cold water. The handspun yarn is durable.
Dry	Hang in shade. Dries slowly because of its weight.
Iron	Medium heat. Responds well to a warm iron.
Weight	100–140 GSM — noticeably heavier than mulmul or voile.
Origin	KVIC outlets across India · Gujarat · West Bengal · Wardha, Maharashtra
Best for	Rozana · Daftar · Women who want to wear fabric with history and meaning

Linen
Made of	Made from the flax plant — one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world. Stronger than cotton, heavier, with a distinctive natural texture.
Feel	Crisp when new, softens with washing. Textured and substantial. Holds its shape rather than flowing freely — it looks considered.
How it wears	Drapes with geometry — angular, naturally pressed-looking, clean at the shoulder and pallu. Suits formal and deliberate occasions.
Wash	Machine wash gentle at 30°C.
Dry	Hang in shade.
Iron	Medium-high heat while the fabric is still damp. Dry ironing dry linen accomplishes very little.
Weight	120–160 GSM — noticeably heavier than cotton.
Origin	Sirampur, West Bengal · Ahmedabad, Gujarat · Bhiwandi, Maharashtra
Best for	Daftar · Cooler months · Women who want structure and clean lines

Mangalgiri Cotton

Mangalgiri Cotton
Made of	100% cotton woven in Mangalgiri, Andhra Pradesh. GI-tagged. Identifiable by its double-thread pattern, which creates a slight texture in the body and a characteristic contrasting border.
Feel	Slightly rougher than plain cotton — craft-made rather than mill-produced. Cool, breathable, with a natural weight that gives it good drape.
How it wears	Drapes well and holds pleats consistently. Visual interest even in plain colours. Looks deliberate and put-together without being dressy.
Wash	Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle.
Dry	Hang in shade.
Iron	Medium heat while slightly damp. The texture recovers fully.
Weight	100–130 GSM — comfortable mid-weight cotton.
Origin	Mangalgiri, Andhra Pradesh (GI-tagged)
Best for	Daftar · Rozana · Natural, unprocessed aesthetic

Kota Doria
Made of	Cotton-silk blend (typically 70% cotton, 30% silk), or pure cotton variant. GI-tagged from Kota, Rajasthan. The characteristic square check (khat) is structural to the weave — not printed.
Feel	Crispness between voile and linen. Subtle sheen from the silk content. The square pattern gives visual texture even in plain colours.
How it wears	Holds pleats cleanly but stays comfortable in hot weather. One of the best summer sarees for anyone who wants structure without weight.
Wash	Hand wash for cotton-silk blend. Machine wash gentle for pure cotton variant.
Dry	Hang in shade. Dries quickly.
Iron	Medium heat while slightly damp.
Weight	70–90 GSM — very light for a structured fabric.
Origin	Kota, Rajasthan (GI-tagged). Genuine Kota has the structural square pattern (not printed) and slight irregularity from handloom weaving.
Best for	Tyohar · Aarambh · Summer months

Chanderi
Made of	Cotton warp and silk weft (or vice versa) — or pure cotton variant. GI-tagged from Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh. 700 years of weaving tradition.
Feel	Light, slightly crisp, with a soft sheen sitting between cotton and silk. The body has a slight translucency that is part of the fabric’s character.
How it wears	Quiet elegance. Holds pleats better than pure cotton. The silk content gives a fluidity that cotton alone does not achieve.
Wash	Hand wash cold with mild, pH-neutral detergent. Do not wring.
Dry	Lay flat on a towel in shade. Reshape while damp.
Iron	Reverse side, low-to-medium setting.
Weight	60–80 GSM — very light despite the silk content.
Origin	Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh (GI-tagged). One of India’s most important handloom traditions.
Best for	Tyohar · Daftar · Women who want the feel of silk without full silk maintenance

Maheshwari
Made of	Silk warp and cotton weft. GI-tagged from Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh. Reversible — both sides look finished. Made in the same town for centuries.
Feel	Softer and more fluid than Chanderi. Subtle lustre from the silk warp — present but not flashy. Natural weight drapes beautifully.
How it wears	More fluidity than Chanderi, more substance than mulmul. Holds pleats well through long hours of wear.
Wash	Hand wash cold with mild, pH-neutral detergent.
Dry	Lay flat in shade. Do not wring.
Iron	Reverse side, low setting.
Weight	70–90 GSM — light but with drape weight that gives it presence.
Origin	Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh (GI-tagged). The Maheshwar revival is associated with the Rehwa Society.
Best for	Tyohar · Daftar · Handloom tradition in an office-appropriate fabric

Katan Silk
Made of	Pure mulberry silk from Varanasi — tightly woven using twisted silk thread. Both warp and weft are silk. Traditional base fabric for Banarasi sarees. The word “katan” refers to the twisted-thread weaving technique.
Feel	Smooth, cool, and substantial. Quiet natural sheen — soft-glossy, not mirror-bright. Feels heavier than it looks. Uniform and smooth on both sides.
How it wears	Drapes with structure and authority. Crisp pleats that hold through a long occasion. Zari buti and border work adds visual weight without stiffening the body.
Wash	Hand wash gently in cold water with silk-friendly detergent, or dry clean. Do not soak. Wash separately — metallic zari thread can tarnish if rubbed against other fabrics.
Dry	Squeeze water out gently, roll in a clean towel, then dry flat in shade. Direct sunlight can dull the sheen.
Iron	Low heat on the reverse side only. Never iron directly over the zari border or pallu — the metallic thread can flatten and lose lustre.
Weight	80–100 GSM — medium-light, but denser than the GSM suggests because of the tight twist in the yarn.
Origin	Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (GI-tagged). The Katan weave is specific to Banaras and is not produced at this quality level elsewhere in India.
Best for	Shaadi · Tyohar · Banarasi tradition in a contemporary colour

Tussar Silk
Made of	Wild silk produced by the tussar silkworm (Antheraea mylitta), which feeds on forest trees — sal, arjun, asan. Unlike cultivated mulberry silk, tussar is wild silk. Coarser, more textured, with a warm natural golden-amber colour.
Feel	Textured, warm, and substantial. Does not have the slippery smoothness of Silk Crepe or the sheer lightness of Georgette. Feels like a textile — with variation in the weave, a slight roughness, and the warmth of something genuinely natural.
How it wears	Drapes with weight and presence. Falls with intention rather than floating. Holds its form well and does not need constant adjustment.
Wash	Hand wash in cold water with mild, pH-neutral detergent. No soaking.
Dry	Lay flat on a clean towel. Reshape while damp. Do not hang to dry.
Iron	Reverse side only, low-silk setting. Use a pressing cloth.
Weight	80–110 GSM — heavier and denser than Chanderi.
Origin	Bhagalpur, Bihar (GI-tagged, sometimes called Silk City) · Jharkhand
Best for	Tyohar · Shaadi · Women who want silk with a natural, artisanal aesthetic

Matka Silk
Made of	Spun silk made from shorter fibres left over from the reeling process — twisted and spun rather than drawn as continuous filaments. Thicker, uneven, textured yarn with visible slub that looks handmade.
Feel	Rough and honest — not what most people expect silk to feel like. Not smooth or slippery. Almost cotton-like in texture, but with the weight and lustre of silk.
How it wears	Weight and substance. Holds its form well and suits structured occasions. Does not flow or billow — it falls.
Wash	Hand wash in cold water with mild detergent. Gentle handling.
Dry	Lay flat on a towel. Reshape while damp. Do not wring.
Iron	Reverse side, low-silk setting.
Weight	100–130 GSM — one of the heavier fabrics in our catalogue.
Origin	Bhagalpur, Bihar · Murshidabad, West Bengal
Best for	Tyohar · Jashn · Silk weight and lustre with a natural, non-polished aesthetic

Silk Crepe
Made of	100% mulberry silk made from tightly twisted yarn, creating a slightly pebbled or matte surface rather than high-shine. The crepe weave gives a distinctive fluid drape — slightly stretchy.
Feel	Smooth to the touch but not slippery. Subtle texture from the crepe weave — slightly matte rather than reflective. Moves with the body rather than against it.
How it wears	More forgiving than most silks — small pleating errors are less visible because the fabric recovers gracefully. Suits both evening occasions and formal daytime events.
Wash	Hand wash in cold water with mild, pH-neutral detergent. Rinse gently.
Dry	Lay flat on a clean towel. Reshape while damp.
Iron	Reverse side, low-silk setting.
Weight	80–110 GSM — mid-weight for a silk.
Origin	Bangalore, Karnataka · Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Best for	Shaadi · Jashn · Daftar · First-time silk wearers — the most manageable of our silk options

Silk Georgette
Made of	100% mulberry silk with a sheer, lightweight quality and slightly rough texture from crepe-twist yarn. Lighter and more transparent than Silk Crepe.
Feel	Light, slightly sheer, catches light differently as you move. Does not feel smooth like satin — it floats. The silk that makes other silks look heavy.
How it wears	Extraordinary fluidity. The pallu moves with air currents and the body. Pleats are soft rather than crisp — this is correct for the fabric.
Wash	Hand wash in cold water with mild detergent. The most delicate fabric in our catalogue — handle gently.
Dry	Lay flat on a towel and reshape while damp. Do not hang.
Iron	Very low heat on the reverse side only. Use a pressing cloth. Georgette scorches easily.
Weight	50–70 GSM — the lightest silk in our catalogue.
Origin	Indian mulberry silk centres
Best for	Jashn · Shaadi (reception and cocktail) · Women who want extraordinary without heaviness

Silk Organza
Made of	100% mulberry silk with a very open plain weave and a stiff, crisp hand. Sheer but holds its shape rather than draping — almost architectural.
Feel	Stiff, papery-crisp, and sheer. Catches light and holds it — a luminosity that is difficult to achieve with softer silks.
How TARINÉ uses it	Border and accent panel only — never as a full saree base fabric. Sewn onto the edge of a saree to add structure and luminosity. This is stated on every product page where organza appears.
Wash	Hand wash very gently in cold water. Lay flat to dry — do not hang. Care for the full saree is governed by the base fabric, not the organza border.
Iron	Very low heat only. Organza is delicate and easily distorted by heat.
Weight	30–50 GSM — extremely light, but the open weave makes it feel much stiffer than its weight suggests.
Best for	Evening and festive sarees where border detail matters · Used as accent panel only, never as the full saree base

Modal
Made of	Regenerated fibre from beech wood pulp. Semi-natural: the raw material is natural, the process industrial. Famously soft — softer than cotton, more fluid than linen.
Feel	Soft, fluid, and weighted enough to fall with natural grace. The fabric equivalent of a favourite worn-in garment that happens to drape beautifully. Does not feel crisp or structured.
How it wears	Natural, graceful drape. Excellent for long hours of wear. Wrinkles less than cotton and recovers well from packing. Does not hold a sharp structured pleat.
Wash	Machine wash gentle at 30°C.
Dry	Hang in shade. Dries quickly.
Iron	Low setting while slightly damp.
Weight	80–120 GSM — mid-weight and fluid.
Origin	Surat and Ahmedabad, Gujarat · Tirupur, Tamil Nadu
Best for	Rozana · Daftar · Women who prioritise softness and comfort over structure

Viscose / Rayon

Viscose / Rayon
Made of	Regenerated fibre from wood pulp cellulose. Semi-natural: the raw material is plant-based, the manufacturing process uses chemical solvents. Historically marketed as “artificial silk” — and its drape quality justifies the comparison.
Feel	Fluid with a slight silky sheen. Feels cool against the skin. Significantly more affordable than natural silk while achieving a similar aesthetic effect.
How it wears	Fluidity and movement. Pleats are soft rather than structured. Suits occasions where the aesthetic effect of silk is desired without the price or maintenance demands.
Wash	Gentle hand wash in cold water, or delicate machine cycle at 30°C.
Dry	Lay flat. Viscose can stretch when wet and hanging heavy.
Iron	Low heat on the reverse side while slightly damp.
Weight	80–120 GSM — similar to Modal.
Origin	Surat, Gujarat · Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. TARINÉ always requests composition verification — blended yarns with polyester are common in these markets.
Best for	Tyohar · Shaadi · Women who want the look and feel of silk at a more accessible price point

Tencel / Lyocell

Tencel / Lyocell
Made of	Lyocell fibre from eucalyptus wood pulp, produced in a closed-loop process that captures and reuses approximately 99% of the chemical solvent. Semi-natural — significantly lower environmental impact than conventional viscose. Tencel is the brand name for Lyocell.
Feel	Softer than cotton, with a slightly silky drape — almost silk-like without silk’s delicacy. Smooth and cool against the skin. More breathable than modal.
How it wears	Drapes beautifully and holds pleats better than modal. Gets better with washing — softens without losing its drape. One of the most versatile fabrics in our catalogue.
Wash	Machine wash gentle at 30°C.
Dry	Hang in shade. Dries quickly.
Iron	Low setting while slightly damp.
Weight	80–120 GSM — similar to modal but with a slightly crisper hand.
Origin	Surat and Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Best for	Daftar · Rozana · Natural-fibre feel, machine-washable ease

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