Indian women wearing hand embroidered zardozi work kurta set

All about Zardozi embroidery | Blog | The Indian Couture

Zardozi:  The Richest Embroidery ..

As India is famous for its traditional embroideries that includes dosen of styles like chikankari, aari, zardozi, gota and so on, and from the wide range of varity of  tradional embroideries, here we gonna talk about the richest embroidery of india (zardozi).

Zardozi is a style of heavy and intricate metal embroidery done on a variety of materials. Zardozi embroidery art entails creating intricate motifs with gold and silver threads. The studded pearls and valuable stones further enhance the work's splendor. It is a beautiful embroidery method intended to bring a touch of majesty to the fabric.

Zardozi  embroidery is so adaptable that it may be found on garments such as salwar suits, lehengas, and other ethnic wear, as well as accessories such as wall hangings, purses, and handbags. Lucknow, Bhopal, Chennai, and other Indian towns are active in the production of zardozi works. There are various micro-enterprises that specialise in Zardozi today. It is notably popular in Iran, Pakistan, and India.

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Procedure:

  • The design that is to be embroided is traced on a fabric usually silk organza, velvet or satin.
  • The entire design is poked with a needle and then outlined is followed by fixing the fabric in frame(adda) so that the fabric does not move.
  • The metallic wires are cut and thinned down according to the need of craftsman., then a base colored thread is used to stitch the pattern along with the wires.
  • After completion, the embroidery is beaten slowly in order to set the design into the fabric.

 

Indian women wearing hand embroidered zardozi work kurta set

Origin and history of zardozi embroidery:

Basically, The word 'Zardozi' is a combination  of two Persian terms, ‘Zar’ means ‘Gold’ and ‘Dozi’means‘Embroidery’. Since the Rigveda, centuries before Christ, gold and silver embroidery has been a part of Indian culture.

. During the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar, it began to prosper. Later, somewhere between rapid industrialisation and the devaluation of the Karigari, the value of zardozi was lost. But not for long; soon after independence, this golden embroidery entered the new world of fashion.

The term "Kalabatun" refers to the actual original process of making zardozi. Sequins, beads, precious and semi-precious stones, and pearls were added, making it a regal and opulent embroidery. Real gold and silver wires were encased along with the silk threads. Later, silver and golden-colored copper wires were used for the work by the artisans.

The term "zardoz " refers to those workers who practised the setting of ornamentation with metallic wires, per numerous literature. Shihab Al Umari, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq's biographer, and other mediaeval historians like Ziauddin Barani and Ibn Batuta also made reference to Zari in their writings. The word "Zardozi" appeared for the first time in the Futahat I Firozshahi. The tradition of gold and silver embroidery, however, peaked during the Mughal era.

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Motifs (designs) used in zardozi:

The designs employed in zardozi are the same old traditional symbols that are primarily based on nature, including leaves, flowers, fruits, animals, and birds. The mango, or kairi, is one of the most popular themes. Geometric patterns, jalis, and paisleys influenced by Persian designs are also widespread. It uses a different method than other conventional embroideries. Other embroideries employ a variety of stitches, while in zardozi, the thread solely serves as a binding agent.

Indian women wearing hand embroidered zardozi work kurta set

The diverse shapes and sizes of wires and discs made of gold and silver serve as the inspiration for the designs employed by embroiderers in Rajasthan. The dabka is a thin, tightly wound wire while the salma is a coiled, springy wire with a flat base. Gijai is a thin, rigid wire that is round in shape, whereas the tilla is a flat metal wire. Asitara is a tiny metal ring that resembles a star. Also frequently utilised are sequins and coloured beetle wings. The most expensive and ostentatious examples of zardozi include semi-precious stones and pearls.

 

Types of zardozi embroidery:

Zardozi, as a royal embroidery, was somewhat limited and was solely made for the royal families. As a result, there isn't much variety in this art style. The only difference is the inclusion of various types of pearls, beads, and stones. Using different types of coiled to straight wires for the embroidery also provides a slight variance in appearance.

Zardozi designs are usually inspired by or absorbed from the night sky. As a result, starry designs and crescent moon motifs are the most common. Other natural motifs such as leaves and flowers can also be found. Zardozi embroidery has a certain level of flexibility in its appearence when the thickness of the metallic wires used is changed.

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Where to Buy Zardozi Embroidered Dresses Online? 

At The Indian Couture, our focus has entirely been on making culture accessible to one and all. And at the same time, if you don't compromise with quality and fashion, TIC is your actual shopping destination. 

We have a wide variety of traditional dresses for girls and women, and we ship pan India. We had asked hundreds of women about their choice of wedding dresses. 

We make custom zardozi embroidery dresses when our customers desire them. Our collection is frequently updated based on the feedback and suggestions of our customers.  

Having done personal customizations on special requests of our customers, we have strong expertise in delivering excellence for your special day. If you too have a requirement for a customised dress, we can get it done for you.

 

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