Nalini is an original Sambalpuri cotton saree woven in mercerized cotton, part of the authentic Sambalpuri handloom saree tradition from Odisha. Its greenish grey body carries a composed stillness, anchored by the blue ek phulia and kathiphera border and a pallu alive with the traditional flower Phula motif in measured, repeat precision.

The Craft Behind Nalini

Nalini is woven using the Bandha technique — a double ikat process known in Odisha as Bandhakala. Before a single thread meets the loom, both warp and weft threads are resist-dyed by hand: sections are tightly bound so that dye penetrates only where the pattern is intended. When the threads are finally woven together, the motifs emerge simultaneously on both axes, aligned with a precision that no machine process can replicate. This is the work of Bhulia weavers, Odisha, who carry this knowledge across generations. A cotton Bandha saree like Nalini takes 10 to 15 days on the loom. The GI certified Sambalpuri saree status is conferred under the Sambalpuri Handloom GI tag, and each Pasapali saree carries the Government of India Handloom Mark.

Wearing Nalini

Mercerized cotton gives Nalini a faint natural sheen without weight. The fabric drapes cleanly and holds its pleat without stiffening, making it easy to wear across long hours. The hand of the cloth is smooth and breathable — suited to a Sambalpuri cotton saree for office, where the greenish grey body reads as composed and precise. The kathiphera border and Phula pallu give enough presence for a Sambalpuri saree for puja, where the motifs carry their own quiet ritual significance. For a Sambalpuri saree for wedding, Nalini pairs well with gold or antique silver jewellery — the greenish grey does not compete; it holds the room calmly. The blue in the border and pallu surface only on close inspection, which is the nature of double ikat: the detail rewards the wearer, not the distance.

Nalini is part of the handloom Sambalpuri saree collection at Pasapali, where each piece is sourced directly from Bhulia weavers in Odisha.

Explore More Handloom Sarees

Nalini is part of Pasapali's collection of Sambalpuri Handloom sarees from Odisha. Read the story behind the brand and the weavers who make them.