Zardosi is a very famous kind of an embroidery done on fabrics with the help of golden,silver and multicolored metal threads. It is an ancient Persian art form dating back before the Mughal Empire.The use of metal embroidery in Indian textiles and costumes, especially the ones used for special occasions or ceremonial purposes, demonstrate the importance of gold and silver within the culture.
Now in this Bridal Lehnga you can see how beautifully Zardosi has been used by the designer Manish Malhotra on the edges of the Dupatta and the hem lines of the Ghagra.
Zardosi is an art which create magic on the fabric with its intricate mango motifs reflecting the royal effects. Zardosi embroidery was mainly embroidered on Organza fabric earlier but now zardosi has also become the choice of leading fashion designers of India and they do not hesitate to mix and match this beautiful art with various fabrics and colours to create magic.
Indian zardozi has made its place in the world and been considered as one among the beautiful embroidery styles including Chickan, Kashmiri, Gujrati and Sindhi embroideries. It is one of the most expensive types of embroidery because not only is the fabric and the material used expensive but also the labourers follow a system of wages on hourly basis. Even though zari work is very expensive, the beauty, the glamour and versatility have made it the most widely used embroidery all over the world. The labour is cheap in India when compared to other parts of the world.
The fabric to be embroidered is first sewn on an embroidery frame called karchobi and is stretched uniformly, the design to be embroidered is then transferred on to the stretched fabric. The materials used in this form of embroidery are as varied as the stitches. Metallic wires, kora, saadi, sequins, glass beads, metallic beads stones, pearls etc. are used. Also items like shells, wooden beads, and plastic beads are being used today to enhance this kind of embroidery.
Now the zardozi has been transformed into designer zardosi stuff and the best example is these two ghagra and choli were zardosi is creating magic.
Hi,
A friend e mailed this page to me and I am absolutely bold over by the beauty of the work.
A keen sewer/smocker I can only sit an marvel at this beautiful, stunning art.
As a long-time embroiderer and a big fan of embroidery work, I am amazed by this work! Absolutely gorgeous. One of the more modern uses of this work can be seen in An for Me jeans. I was just looking at the work on them, and the notes said it was Zardosi, which led me to this page. It\’s good to see that the traditional, beautiful arts are not being lost, but are being translated into the modern world for a whole new generation to appreciate!
Great article – amazing embroidery. I buy this often directly from India for use on items in my personal wardrobe – very unique, very apecial. Thanks for the info111