Woman in field in whimsical pose wearing a pink linen kaftan and upcycled sari silk beaded statement necklace — Pink linen summer kaftan dress

Let me take you on a little journey to a quiet little town called Phulia, a few hours from the vibrant city of Kolkata.

Phulia has been a hub of handloom weaving for generations. Weavers fleeing the turmoil of Partition settled here, bringing with them a rich textile heritage from what is now Bangladesh. Rebuilding their lives—they built looms, cooperatives and a tradition that lives on today in every thread of our new linen kaftans.

Indian artisan weaving colourful linen — Indian weaver carefully weaving fabric on traditional loom

One cooperative that’s been running since the 1950’s, has over 200 artisans working together. With men at the looms and women handling the vital work before and after the weaving is done. It’s a beautiful balance of tradition, community, and collaboration.

Indian master artisan weaving linen on traditional pitloom

Among them is Jhuran Das, a master weaver who’s been working the looms for over 45 years. At 60, he’s not just an artisan—he’s a guardian of centuries-old techniques. He lives with his wife right on the co-op grounds and spends his days weaving delicate fabrics, including the breathable linen used in your kaftan.

Hand weaving is under threat. In 2000, Phulia had 75,000 handlooms. Today, that number is less than 20,000. The world of handloom is beautiful—but it’s also at risk of fading away. As cheaper, machine-made fabrics flood the market, the demand for handwoven cloth has dropped sharply.

Woman in red and gold sari spinning linen whilst looking at camera — Indian woman spinning fibres on a traditional charka

Why Handloom Weaving Is at Risk – And How You Can Help
The next generation don’t see a future in handloom. Attracted by opportunities In the cities, they can earn money with far less effort. But that means less new weavers and crafts once passed down through generations, are becoming a distant memory.
Power loom fabrics often look just like handloom, making it almost impossible for customers to tell the difference. That means even those who want to support handwoven textiles may not realise what they’re buying. Without transparency, handloom weavers lose out. They can’t charge what their skill is truly worth and many are paid too little for the hours of work they pour into each piece.

Model looking at camera wearing a blue linen kaftan dress with silver zari stripe detail — Blue linen kaftan dress

From field to fabric

Every kaftan starts its life in the fields—as a flax plant swaying gently in the sun. Hidden beneath the bark of each stem lies the precious fibre that becomes linen. But before it can be spun into yarn, nature must do its work.

Under the warm sun of West Bengal, flax bundles are left outside to gently rot—a natural controlled rotting process called retting, that extracts the long, strong flax fibres that form linen. When dried, they’re beaten and combed by hand, separating the soft, usable strands from the coarse inner pith of the flax plant.

Only the longest, strongest fibres make the cut, they’re spun and hand-dyed in soft, breathable colours using AZO-free dyes. They’re then delivered to the weaving society where our artisans begin their part of the journey.

It’s a slow and patient process. The spun yarn must be carefully wound onto bobbins, stretched and measured for the loom. It takes hours of careful hands and trained eyes before even a single thread is woven.

And then, finally—the loom begins to sing.

Weavers like Jhuran, with 45 years of experience behind him, sit at their pit looms and work inch by inch, weaving just 3 metres of linen a day. Every thread is a quiet act of devotion. Every length of fabric, a work of art.

When you wear one of our linen kaftans, you’re not just wearing something beautiful—you’re wearing the result of hundreds of hours of patient craftsmanship, by many hands, and generations of knowledge passed down into that moment. This is the true slow fashion. This is love, woven into every thread.

woven linen kaftan dress with shimmering silver zari stripes detail — Pink linen zari striped kaftan dress

When you choose to buy a handwoven kaftan, you’re doing more than supporting slow fashion. You’re helping keep a heritage alive. You’re telling a master weaver that their skill is valued. You’re helping to ensure that the next generation has a reason to carry these traditions forward. Your purchase is powerful. It helps keep looms running, hands weaving, and stories being told—thread by thread.

By choosing one of our linen kaftans, you’re doing more than picking a stylish holiday cover-up. You’re standing up for a slow, ethical fashion model that values craftsmanship over mass production. You’re helping to keep alive weaving techniques that machines can’t replicate.

Our linen kaftan dresses honour this tradition while meeting the needs of modern life. The linen in our kaftans is light, airy, and perfect for travel. Each piece is designed to be effortlessly elegant and ethically made, so you feel as good as you look.

Every kaftan represents hours of skilled handwork, passed from master weaver to apprentice, powered by hands—not machines. It’s a celebration of Indian craft, of sustainability and of mindful living.

So as you pack for your next escape, our linen kaftan maxi dresses ensure you look stylish, stand out from the crowd and quietly tell a story of a legacy.

Why not share this blog with someone who loves kaftans?

The Story Of Your Linen Kaftan – Crafted with Purpose Woven with Legacy