Maharani Maxi Kaftan Dress Natural Dyes

Our Maharani Maxi Kaftan Dress takes its name from the title once bestowed upon the wife of an Indian maharaja, and there could be no more fitting name for a dress with such regal presence. Jean Marie was inspired by the legendary Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, celebrated for her beauty, impeccable style and an elegance that never needed to announce itself.

The true luxury of our Maharani lies in its extraordinary cloth. Hand block printed entirely with natural dyes, the deep black ground is achieved through traditional dyeing techniques rather than modern synthetic color. Against it, the great Indian paisley unfurls in warm, earthy tones touched with subtle red. Each motif is impressed onto the cotton by hand with a carved wooden block, giving the pattern the slight variations and beautiful irregularities that reveal the presence of the artisan behind it.

Creating a textile such as this is a slow and demanding art. Natural dyes must be carefully prepared and developed through successive stages of printing, resisting, dyeing and washing. The richness of the black, in particular, requires the specialized knowledge of master printers who understand how natural ingredients interact with cotton and with one another. It is a tradition Jean Marie has sought out personally in Rajasthan, choosing artisans whose mastery preserves methods that have been practiced for generations.

Our Maharani Maxi Kaftan Dress has an elegant, elongated silhouette that feels wonderfully relaxed while still looking polished. The softly draped kaftan shape is gently drawn in by an adjustable waist, allowing you to create as much or as little definition as you like, while the wide sleeves and long sweeping skirt give the dress beautiful movement. Black tassels provide the finishing touch.

Paisley itself has an extraordinary history, traveling from the great textile traditions of India into the wardrobes of fashionable women around the world. Here, rendered by hand in natural dyes against dramatic black, it feels at once ancient and remarkably modern.

Our Maharani is a dress for evenings under the stars, faraway journeys and those occasions when something ordinary simply will not do. And perhaps, for a few hours at least, for feeling a little like a maharani yourself.

Length 54"

One size with adjustable drawstring waist.

100% Cotton.

Made in India

Hand wash or delicate machine wash in cold water using a lingerie bag to protect tassels. Hang dry.

It is recommended to wash this dress  separately before wearing as natural dyes may rub or bleed on first wash.