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Bandhani sarees
3 pieces · from ₹4,499
Bandhani sarees are tie-dyed by hand. Small points of cloth are pinched up and bound tightly with thread before the fabric goes into the dye bath, so each bound point stays undyed and opens into a tiny dot once the thread is removed. The craft is rooted in Gujarat, with Kutch among its best-known centres, and it has been worn at weddings and festivals for generations. Our Bandhani sarees come in festive reds and maroons on modal silk, and we pair the dotted body with an Ajrakh pallu so that two Kutch crafts meet in one drape.
Because every dot is tied individually, no two sarees match exactly. The size and spacing of the dots, the way one shade melts into the next, and the odd uneven dot are all part of the character. We buy in very small numbers from the makers we visit, so a Bandhani piece you love may not come back once it sells out.
Look through the sarees below, and read our Bandhani guide if you want to know how the tying works.
The Bandhani edit
How to choose a Bandhani saree
Look at the dots
Finer, closer dots read as a soft texture from a distance. Larger dots read as a clear pattern. Neither is better. Pick the one that suits how much attention you want the saree to draw.
Choose the colour for the day
Red and maroon are the traditional festive choices and photograph richly in lamp light. If you wear the saree to a daytime puja, a deeper maroon looks calm in sunlight. Check the product photos in more than one view, since dyed cloth shows its depth differently in shade and in light.
Think about the pallu
In this edit the body is Bandhani and the pallu is Ajrakh. The printed pallu gives you something to arrange and show when you drape, so you can keep the blouse and jewellery simple.
Handle with care
Do not pull on the dotted areas when you pleat, because the knotted cloth can stretch. Dry cleaning is the safe option unless the product page says otherwise. Keep it out of direct sun when drying or storing, and fold it in a cotton cover.
Match it to the occasion
Bandhani suits pujas, festival evenings and wedding functions as a guest. For a daytime puja choose a lighter or smaller dot pattern. For an evening function choose a deeper maroon or red with a pallu that shows well in lamp light.
Questions about Bandhani sarees
Is Bandhani the same as Bandhej?
Yes. Bandhani and Bandhej are two names for the same tie-dye craft. Which name is used depends on the region and the speaker.
How is Bandhani made?
Makers pinch tiny points of cloth, bind each one with thread, then dye the fabric. The bound points resist the dye and become the dots. Several rounds of tying and dyeing build up multi-colour designs.
Can I wear a Bandhani saree to a wedding?
Yes, as a guest. Bandhani is a long-standing choice for wedding functions and pujas. Look for a deeper shade and a pallu with some weight in the pattern for the main evening.
How do I wash a Bandhani saree?
Follow the care note on the product page. Dry cleaning is the safest route for dyed modal silk, and it protects the dots from stretching.