Hold a Kota Doria saree up to the light and you will see a grid of tiny open squares running across the whole fabric. That is khat.
Why it matters
The open squares are what make the fabric famously light. They let air through, which is why a Kota Doria saree stays comfortable through a Rajasthani summer.
The fall
Most textiles either drape heavily or cling. A Kota weave does neither. The structure holds pleats and a clean silhouette while staying loose enough that it never feels stiff.
The technique is close to 400 years old, and it is still woven by hand.
