Indian Handicrafts: Zari Works

The Zari Embroidery

Page Last Updated: October 06,2009

Zari (a.k.a. Zardozi)  is the fine glittery thread of gold or silver and the embroidery made using them. The stitches are extremely fine and are worked with dexterity and skill, with the embroidery starting from the center and proceeding to the outer edges in a circular fashion. Zari designs are used for table linens and also for making articles of personal wear. A vast variety of shawls are hand-crafted in India. These are mostly of wool although cotton and silk shawls are also produced. The famous pashmina shawls of Kashmir are made of the finest wool and have a luxuriant silky texture. Indian shawls depend on embroidery or on weaving for their ornamentation. The Kashmiri embroiderer takes great pride in embroidering shawls which have a pattern identical on both sides. The motifs used for embroidery or weaving in shawls follow Indian traditions, and include the elephant, the mango, the lotus, etc. Men's scarves are also made in the same design as shawls.

Zari work on a girl's sari

See Also:

• Kasooti Embroidery

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