Celebrating The Indian Heritage of Embroidery

Embroidery has always been an integral part of Indian culture. As kids you must have witnessed the rich tradition of embroidery when our mothers or grandmothers, enjoying the warmth of the sun in the winter times, used to sit with colorful threads, embroidery rings, needles and what not. All sharing stories meanwhile neatly working on their traced designs, preparing beautifully embroidered pillow covers, table runners, dupattas and more.

These unforgettable moments of childhood not only exposed us to the rich heritage of India but also inculcated an itch to pursue the traditional learning and carry it forward in many. At Moledro, the designs for creating an ensemble and outfit are uniquely chosen. It tells a story and delivers an instant connection with the wearer apart from just being an eye candy.

If we have to trace the art of embroidery then its existence has been noticed in the Rig Veda, however, the modern embroidery culture saw a boost with Mughals. Post the Mughal kings ascended to the Indian throne, the art and culture of the Indian subcontinent noticed a drastic change. The introduction of Islamic influenced designs and prints, the change in the jewelry design and garment construction can be easily seen by the naked eye.

In order to understand the traditional embroidery and trace their origin, let’s pick them one by one.

1. Zardosi:

Zardosi is a heavy Persian word made up of two words zari and dosi which mean gold and embroidery, respectively. Zardosi had been the most loved embroidery technique by the royal bloods and the designs trace the flora and fauna of the Indian subcontinent.

2. Kashidakari:

Kashidakari finds its origin in the Kashmir region where this wearable art form is created over both winters as well as summer fabrics. In Kashidakari, the design traces are usually floral and intertwined vines. The embroidery is done simultaneously while weaving the fabric and that is the main distinguishing feature of kashidakari from other embroidery techniques.
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3. Phulkari:

Phulkari, the popular embroidery technique of Punjab originated in the villages of the state however its modern form takes inspiration from the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Phulkari is a form where the base fabric is prioritized on a comfort basis and further it gets covered in colorful embroidery. The embroidery is usually of geometric shapes or tracing the beauty of flowers and cotton threads are widely used.

4. Chikankari:

When we talk about Indian-origin royal embroidery techniques, chikankari can not be forgotten. This traditional and widely popular wearable art form was introduced by Noor Jahan, wife of Mughal emperor Jahangir. Initially, chikankari was done over white muslin fabric. However, with time it has evolved and the embroidery technique is used to create beautiful dresses of silk, organza, or chiffon material of varied colors, mostly pastel shades. 32 types of stitching techniques are utilized to create chikan design and Lucknow is considered a hub of this embroidery form.

The royalty of the Indian sub-continent has delivered a shape to art and culture. The vivid diversity can be easily witnessed through embroidery and at Moledro, the celebration of contrasting and diverse beauty is of paramount importance. The design studio of Delhi believes in giving a new touch to the tradition while keeping its integrity maintained, honoring the wearable art form at its best.