Kshitij Jalori launched his eponymous namesake label in 2016. Focusing on preserving India’s heritage weaves and reviving ancient handloom, the brand endeavors to promote and conserve exclusive textiles. Kshitij graduated from NIFT, Delhi and went on to work with the design houses of Rta Kapur Chishti, Sabyasachi, Pero and Shades of India, cultivating minimal aesthetics with sophisticated styling. Focusing primarily on working with traditional design elements of Benaras looms, Kshitij’s unique take on art motifs and modern weaving techniques gave a brand-new dimension to conventional craftsmanship. ‘Documenting art’ would be an appropriate phrase to characterize the label, where the designer forms a union of his artistic inspirations and antique weaving crafts.

After working on his classic Benaras line ‘Coromandel Colony’ for two years, Kshitij finally launched his inaugural collection at the Ensemble Kala Ghoda store in 2018. Being one of the first and eminent brands of the #EnsembleIncubator programme, Kshitij has gone on to develop an incredible relationship with the company. “Ensemble has been one of the pioneers and a front runner in promoting Indian designers and exquisite Indian craftsmanship. So when it came to starting out retail for my label, it was amazing that I started my stint with Ensemble at their Kala Ghoda store. Till date, any new collection that I launch is first made available through the Ensemble stores and only then is it made available anywhere else. This clearly defines the special relationship I share with them and how highly I regard Ensemble,” Jalori says. Sharing the common interest of preserving the indigenous sari and craft of weaving while working on their daily life applicability and practical usage, this association is more about giving new dimensions to Indian handloom. Moving away from traditional silhouette offerings of Benarasi brocades and shifting focus instead on distinctive contemporary shapes and patterns, the brand translates to unconventional clothing styles that give it a global appeal and vision.

Ensemble's merchandising team works closely with Kshitij Jalori to ensure the most exclusive, trending and latest collections at the best prices, both for the online shop and our 5 stores across Mumbai and Delhi.

Since the inception of his line, Jalori has validated the fact that the beauty of textile does not need to be circumscribed within its traditional limits. His design philosophy of using different weaving techniques for every collection and molding those into well cut and structured contemporary patterns, has given the brand an exclusive and new-age reputation. His first collection, ‘Coromandel Colony’, was based on kadhwa and phekwa techniques (where each motif is woven separately), featuring the roots of Benaras. Taking inspiration from his days in Kolkata, Kshitij’s following collection named ‘Pakhi Badi’ (translating to ‘House of Birds’) was a unique take on parrots. Documenting the birds as motifs, he worked and revived the classic urtu weave which used to exist almost 50 years ago. One of his more recent collections explored the jazz age extravagance of the Art Deco movement of the 1920s. The collection translated to aari and zari embroidered motifs, exotic flora and fauna prints and distinct weave detailing. Every collection of Kshitij Jalori also includes classic Benarasi pieces – hand woven jaal saris and dupattas paying tribute to this historical art. Working with 200 grams of silver in every kilo of zari, Kshitij maintains a distinct tint of brass-silver hue and not the yellowish gold colour of real zari.

Delving into the richness of silk for Benarasi brocade and using satin and mashru fabric as the main element in all his collections, he combines the opulence of the past with today’s fashion. He uses organza as a detailing component on tunics and dupattas, adding a touch of luxury to his ensembles. Offering a wide variety of contemporary silhouettes ranging from tunics, kurtas, pants, jackets and even bodysuits, the brand has also developed its own recognized trademark of saris and dupattas both in traditional Benarasi weaves and new prints. These saris are a form of art to treasure and hand down through the generations. They also make for an appropriate choice for a wedding reception or bridal trousseau.

The brand is known for its colourful and bold palette of garments. While mustard yellow, fuchsia pink, red, pastel pink, light blue and emerald green work as the perfect choices for poojas and festivals, Kshitij also offers garments in black, beige, burgundy and deep blue for evening occasions. A solid mashru straight kurta set paired with a full jaal Benarasi dupatta is a timeless option to add to your wardrobe for a festival, mehendi or a formal evening affair. Known for his contemporary cuts and western silhouettes, a Kshitij Jalori jacket is a perfect companion for dressing up any of your looks. Pair it with a sari for an indo-western occasion or just throw it over a pair of denims and a tee, showcasing the versatile styling options the label offers.

Although Ensemble just launched his label a few years ago, Kshitij Jalori has already made quite an impact as a brand. He has received loyal patrons in terms of devoted customers and celebrity clients. Some of Bollywood’s finest leading ladies have also donned his ensembles. He has dressed Malaika Arora, Kalki Koechlin, Karisma Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, Shobhita Dhulipala and badminton star PV Sindhu. Jalori’s focus of promoting Indian textiles and handloom in a contemporary way has even reached celebrities in the west, having dressed global icon Oprah Winfrey for Elle India.

From creating statement contemporary pieces to classic Benarasi saris, Kshitij Jalori works hard to push boundaries and give a new relevance to Indian art and textiles. “I plan to work with other textile sectors as well, including Chikankari from Lucknow, Pashmina and Kani Shawls from Kashmir, Kanjeevarams from Kanchipuram, Phulkari from Punjab and Jamdani from Bengal. I want to develop a new library of motifs and ideas that could pave the way for further development of these textiles,” Jalori says, indicating there is still a lot the designer will soon have to offer.

SHOP KSHITIJ JALORI KURTA SETS | SHOP KSHITIJ JALORI JACKETS | SHOP KSHITIJ JALORI DUPATTAS

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