Introducing The Solange-Approved Brand: Tigra Tigra

Solange Knowles joined Dave Chappelle on stage at New York’s Radio City last night wearing a pink silk smoking suit by US brand Tigra Tigra. It took us less than 24 hours to become obsessed.

The singer’s "Texas Pink" separates were hand-woven in Patan, Gujarat, as part of Tigra Tigra’s partnership with an Indian non-profit organisation, which employs over 500 women to make the brand’s textiles that are then sewn in LA.

The crushed, sheeny fabric of the suit is not silk, but mashroo, a fabric originally formulated to conform to the principles of Islam which forbade silk to touch the skin. Weavers crafted a fabric with a cotton weft, or base, so that the silk sitting on top would not graze the skin. Islamic nobility could subsequently wear luxurious fabrics without breaking their religion, and mashoo became a popular export of the Ottoman Empire. A rich colour palette, such as Solange’s blush hue, grew over time.

It’s not the first time the singer has dabbled with mashroo. Solange owns ivory and emerald Tigra Tigra pieces that, like the pink suit, complement her love of loose tailoring in vibrant block colours. With an interesting and ethical fabric policy to boot, Tigra Tigra is not just a cool-girl brand that's made for Solange (a champion of under-the-radar labels), but the discerning shopper too. The only snag? Her $760 suiting currently only ships to the US.