Two kurta sets can share a colour, a neckline and a length and still feel like completely different clothes. The difference is almost always the fabric.
Nearly everything we make is in one of three: cotton, modal or viscose. Here is how each one behaves on the body, and the kind of day it suits best.
Cotton: crisp, breathable, holds its shape
Cotton is the fabric we use most. It is breathable and keeps a clean line through the day, so a cotton kurta looks the same at 5 pm as it did when you put it on.
What changes from one cotton set to another is the weave.
- Cotton dobby has a small woven texture that stops a plain colour from looking flat. The Beige Balance Co-ord Set is cotton dobby with a shirt-collar tunic and straight pants, a structured yet breathable fall, and is made for active workdays. The Out & About Batik Set is the same weave with a round neck and a shorter 28-inch tunic, easy for long hours and summer days.
- Cotton satin has a gentle sheen and a firmer, more defined fall. The Skyrose Batik Suit Set is cotton satin; it looks sharp enough for a full day of meetings.
- Cotton with a lurex weave adds a fine thread of shine without losing the cotton feel. The Batik Noor Suit Set stays light and skin-friendly all day, with a structured fall.
Choose cotton for: a hot commute, a non-AC office, long days on your feet, and any day you want the outfit to look as neat in the evening as in the morning.
Modal: soft, fluid, drapes close
Modal is the softest of the three. Where cotton holds a line, modal falls and moves. It feels smooth against the skin and drapes rather than standing away from the body.
- The Skyfall Batik Modal Kurta Set has a 46-inch kurta, 3/4 sleeves and a modal dupatta, with a smooth, fluid fall.
- The Batik Desert Glow Suit Set pairs a round-neck kurta with lace at the sleeve borders. Its description calls the touch "feather-soft", which is the word we use most for modal.
- The Maroon Modal Batik Co-ord shows modal can also look polished: a V-neck, full sleeves and a slightly structured look, designed for workdays in air-conditioned offices.
Choose modal for: days that run from the office into dinner, festive days at work, and any day comfort against the skin matters more than a crisp silhouette.
Modal needs a little care to stay soft. We've written a separate guide on how to care for modal.
Viscose: light, flowing, and it changes with the weave
Viscose is the most varied of the three, because the weave decides almost everything about how it feels.
- Viscose jacquard has a rich woven texture. The Comfort Office Batik Co-ord is made in it: a soft, fluid fall with a slightly structured, polished look, full sleeves and a V-neck. It was designed for long days in air-conditioned rooms.
- Viscose dobby feels surprisingly plush. The Batik Crimson Co-ord Set is made for monsoon workdays and casual office wear, with side slits and palazzo pockets.
- Crush crepe is the lightest. The Teal Batik Crush Crepe Shirt is very flowy, drapes easily and feels cool and breathable all day. The same fabric gives the Crushed Batik Anarkali Suit its soft flare.
Choose viscose for: air-conditioned offices, monsoon days, and when you want movement in a set without the closeness of modal.
Side by side
| Cotton | Modal | Viscose | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Breathable, true cotton touch | Feather-soft, smooth on skin | Light; texture depends on the weave |
| Fall | Structured, holds its shape | Fluid, drapes close | Soft and fluid |
| Best day | Hot commute, long hours on your feet | Office into evening, festive days | AC office, monsoon workdays |
| Try | Beige Balance | Skyfall | Comfort Office |
Does batik behave differently on each fabric?
The process is the same. Wax is laid on the cloth by block, brush or hand, and the pattern comes from where the wax resists. What changes is how the finished print reads. On cotton dobby or satin, the print sits crisp on a structured surface. On modal and crepe, it moves with the fabric. You can see the whole process on how batik happens.
Caring for all three
Wash separately the first time. Then use cold water on a gentle cycle, or hand wash, with a mild liquid detergent. Skip bleach and fabric softener, dry in the shade, and iron on the reverse. The full guide is on our garment care page.
Still not sure?
Start with where you'll spend most of the day. If it's hot and you're moving, choose cotton. If it's cool and you're sitting, choose viscose. If you're going straight from work to somewhere nicer, choose modal.
Every product page lists the fabric, kurta and bottom lengths, and how it fits and falls. If a standard size isn't quite right, message us before you order: every piece can be customised.
For what to look for in a workday set beyond fabric, read how to wear a kurta set to work.
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