A model in a Manish Malhotra creation	From Manish Malhotra’s collection

Asign of royalty in years gone by, the brocade is now weaving its lustrous magic on laymen as well. And it’s not just about the way we wear our fabrics, but also what we accessorise it with. Responsible for this renewed interest in the fabric and its revival are designers, both Indian and international.

Brocade is one of those few textiles which both the genders can lay claim to. They embellish not just evening gowns, saris, lehengas and cholis, but also sherwanis, achkans and vests.

Brocade adds to the value of any garment which requires a classy, rich and regal look. Joining the bandwagon are the accessories. Ladies bags, especially party bags, shoes and even mojries for men are being made using brocade textiles.

“Brocades have an eternal appeal and can never go out of fashion,” explains Meera
Mahadevia, the diva of designer bags. “Earlier, the good old royalty used it to flaunt their status and it was known as Kinkhab, where the silk fabric was woven with threads made of only gold and silver. Today, the fabric has gained immense popularity with designers innovating with different colours.”

Brocade is a heavy fabric, interwoven with rich, raised designs. From the time it was conceived, it has been known as a fabric of the aristocrats. The first known existence of brocade is traced to China, to circa 3630 BC. Some pseudo morphs, impressions left by a textile on bronze or jade, date back to the Shang dynasty - 16th to 11th century BC. Present-day weavers are amazed at the beautiful patterns in brocades produced during the Hun Dynasty.