Sakshi Tanwar's Ajrakh Saree Moment:
How to get the look
A red carpet ajrakh moment has the timeless print trending again. Here's what makes ajrakh worth the hype — and where to find it, genuinely hand block printed, in modal silk.
Actor Sakshi Tanwar was recently spotted at Aamir Khan Productions' 25th anniversary celebrations in a striking black ajrakh-print saree — understated, graphic, and exactly the kind of look that reminds everyone why this centuries-old print never really goes out of style. Red carpet ajrakh moments tend to do that. One good appearance, and search interest for the print spikes for weeks.
If a look like that has you wanting an ajrakh saree of your own, here's what's actually worth knowing about the print before you shop, and where to find it done properly, on a fabric built for exactly this kind of effortless, graphic drape.
What Makes Ajrakh Ajrakh
Ajrakh is one of the oldest hand block printing traditions on the subcontinent, practised primarily by Khatri community artisans across Kutch in Gujarat and Barmer in Rajasthan. What sets it apart from other block prints is the process: up to sixteen separate steps, often including printing on both sides of the fabric, built around a resist-and-dye method that produces the deep indigo blues, madder reds, and near-black tones the print is known for.
That near-black depth, the kind seen in a striking ajrakh saree on the red carpet, usually comes from layering natural dyes rather than a single flat pigment, which is part of why genuine ajrakh has a richness that's hard to flatten into a quick photo. If you want the deeper technical breakdown of the process, our guide to the art of hand block printing walks through it stage by stage.
Why Modal Silk Is Having a Moment of Its Own
Pair ajrakh's bold print with modal silk and you get a saree that photographs as elegantly as it wears. Modal silk has a soft, lightweight handloom drape, more fluid than pure cotton and less formal than traditional silk, which is exactly why it suits a print this graphic. The motif gets room to breathe across the fabric instead of competing with a heavier weave.
It's a combination that works equally well for a wedding function or a more low-key festive evening, which is probably part of why this pairing keeps showing up on red carpets and in everyday wardrobes alike.
"A good ajrakh saree doesn't need accessories to do the talking. The print already is the statement."
Two Genuine Ajrakh Modal Silk Sarees to Shop Right Now
Both of these are hand block printed by Jaipur artisans on pure handloom modal silk, with the blouse piece already attached, so the styling part is done before it even arrives.
Light Camel Traditional Motif Ajrakh Modal Saree
A softer, warmer take on the ajrakh palette. The light camel base lets the traditional motif sit with quiet confidence rather than high contrast, making it an easy choice for daytime weddings or family functions where you want presence without too much drama.
Coral-Peach Floral Print Ajrakh Modal Silk Saree
A floral take on the ajrakh tradition in a warm coral-peach tone. It keeps the structured, balanced repeat the print is known for, while the colour makes it a natural fit for festive evenings and celebratory family events.
If you'd rather explore the full range of shades and motifs, our complete modal silk saree collection has more options across the same hand block printed ajrakh styling.
Buying Ajrakh? Know What You're Looking At
Ajrakh has become popular enough that the market now carries a fair share of machine and digital reproductions sold under the same name. None of this is about any one saree or any one wearer — it's simply worth knowing, generally, before you shop. Genuine hand block ajrakh tends to show a few consistent signs: the dye visibly reaches through to the back of the fabric rather than sitting only on the surface, the print carries small natural irregularities rather than a mathematically perfect repeat, and the fabric carries an earthy, natural-dye smell rather than a chemical one.
If you want the fuller five-point checklist, including the right question to ask a seller about where a print actually came from, our complete guide to spotting fake handblock prints covers it in detail. It's a good five minutes to spend before any bulk or festive purchase.
Styling Notes
A graphic print like ajrakh tends to look strongest when the rest of the look stays simple. Minimal jewellery, a clean hairstyle, and let the saree's pattern be the focal point rather than competing with heavy accessories. If the shade leans warm, like the coral-peach or light camel options above, gold or terracotta jewellery tends to complement it naturally without overpowering the print.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ajrakh print and where does it come from?
Is modal silk a good fabric for an ajrakh saree?
How can I tell if an ajrakh saree is genuinely hand block printed?
Get the Ajrakh Look, Genuinely Hand Block Printed
Hand printed by Jaipur artisans on soft handloom modal silk, blouse piece included.
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