Finely handwoven in shimmering colours, these stunning scarves define 21st century elegance for men and women. Add this soft touch of luxe to a smart work outfit or wrap around for evening gleam.

Saraswati, goddess of learning and the creative arts, represents free-flowing wisdom. Hidden in the ancient alleys of Varanasi, renowned for its culture, religion and splendid silks is a small workshop handlooming Saraswati scarves, continuing an age-old tradition.

By clever reinvention of a disappearing weave, each Saraswati scarf glimmers in two distinctive tones. With more than a dozen colourways, Saraswati silks offer endless possibilities.

In this small Buddhist country where only rivers connect many communities, the tradition of handweaving local silk is passed from grandmother to mother and daughter. They use the wooden loom still kept beneath traditional stilt houses in rural Laos. The rim of old bicycle wheel might make up the spinning wheel.

Careful mixes of plants, fruits and bark create lustrous shades. Choose from four charming designs: elephants, raindrops, stripes or perfectly plain. Depending on the design, a Guanyin scarf takes from three days to a week to weave. A treasure to own and a pleasure to wear.

Gossamer-fine pashmina from Ladakh, the Buddhist land in the Indian Himalayas. Tuck into winter wear or drape loosely on a summer eve for that elusive but unmistakable laid-back luxe!

Apsaras, Buddhist celestial beings, are portrayed by artists as sylvan flying figures; described by the ancients as 'woven air', our incredibly soft, light and warm pashmina won't disappoint. Each a generous two-metres long, their gentle touch and fine weave has to be experienced to be believed.

The pride of Ladakh, these airy scarves are handwoven from the superfine hairs - pashm - of the Changra goat, which inhabits the high, harsh reaches of this ruggedly beautiful land.

From the idyllic Kullu Valley, in the Indian Himalayas, come ebullient Tara scarves: sleek, capacious and characterful. Handwoven in black, grey-brown, cream and fawn, each is decorated with a panel of geometric motifs and finished with a contrasting border.

Tara scarves embody the long tradition of handlooming in the Kullu Valley, with patterns inspired by the mountains and handed down through generations.

Be bold and beautiful in a Tara scarf - like the Buddhist goddess herself! (Tara, a well-known goddess in the Hindu and Buddhist pantheons, is know for her ebullience and strong will, among other attributes).

Cut a dash in a striking Rupini shawl - a brilliant combination of skilled handweaving and traditional design, whose geometrics chime with to modern aesthetics.

Inspired by the stunning Kullu Valley in the Indian Himalayas, each Rupini shawl, a generous two metres, stands out from the crowd. Choose from four bold colours - black, red, off-white and grey - featuring a vibrant panel of mountain motifs and a contrasting border or twisted tassel.

A Rupini shawl makes an irresistable gift ... if you can bear to part with it yourself!

Chaya shawls offer perfect protection against the elements or simply for relaxing at home. Each is beautifully handloomed from natural, undyed yak wool, softened with merino, by weavers in Himachal Pradesh skilled in guarding against harsh winters.

A family enterprise creates these distinctive shawls, inspired by the revered yak and their mountain culture. Chaya is goddess of shadows: wool is carefully selected for toning colours and contrasting textures, creating two colour medleys: snowy black and earthy shades. Each shawl features a fine decorative panel and contrasting border.

Elephants are clever beasts and none more so than Kala Bo’s! Each magical parade of tiny pachyderms – at least 30 in each scarf – is carefully handwoven using jamdani, a demanding technique revered by India’s Mughal emperors.

With cotton this fine, you can float your very own elephant herd (in miniature of course) around your shoulders, ruffle up or gently wrap, making Kala Bo versatile - and lovely to wear! Handloomed in Bengal from high quality cotton, these wonderfully light and tactile scarves combine comfort, charm and culture – making a delightful gift or desirable wardrobe staple.

Kala Bo is wife to Ganesha, the much-loved elephant god. While not technically a goddess – she’s often depicted as a banana tree – we love the story, the verve of banana plants, not to mention the fruit so beloved of elephants!

There are two charming elephant designs in Kala Bo: solo features many ‘single’ elephants; and polo depicts pairs of elephants playing ball. Both designs come in the same five colours: aqua, blush, dusk, sky and plum – on creamy-white.

Handwoven in pure silk, our limited edition series are created for each season in a few fabulous colourways. There’s never more than six of each colourway and they really do stand out from the crowd.

Intense colour and lustre characterises Shine Deeply, this season's limited edition series. Like all Saraswati Silks – Silk Chassis’ bestselling range - each scarf is two-toned. Each of the four shades here is teamed with black, enabling you to adjust the colour intensity depending on your mood and the occasion. The Shine Deeply colours are remarkably lustrous (a deep sheen, not cheap shine!) because of a special weaving technique that captures light brilliantly.