‘Zardozi embroidery signifies timeless elegance and royalty’ (L-R) @jjvalaya and @rimpleandharpreet
What is zardozi?
Zardozi, or zar-douzi, is a Persian word, ‘zar’ means gold and ‘dozi’ means embroidery, thereby translating into
gold embroidery
. It is a blanket term for most hand embroideries that feature gold and silver work
A symbol of opulence
Brides love to opt for hand-embroidered attire from their wedding, and zardozi is a celebrated embroidery technique in opulent ethnic wear.
“Zardozi is Asia’s biggest gift, as it isn’t unique just to India. In bridal ensembles, zardozi is one of the mainstays. Some designers still use pure silver and semiprecious metal threads, preserving age-old techniques,” says designer JJ Valaya, who is known for using metal embroideries in his creations.
‘Zardozi is the soul of bridal fashion’ (Pic: @jjvalaya)
“From mid-eastern to traditional Indian aesthetics, zardozi has been used to embellish everything from clothes to interiors and furniture, thus signifying the exuberant nature of the art form,” says footwear designer Aprajita Toor, who extensively works with such embroideries.
Zardozi 2.0 (@aprajitatoorofficial)
“From the Mughal to the British era, zardozi became symbolic of pageantry with its extensive usage in formal accoutrement,” says designer Maayankraj Singh, who draws inspiration from hand-embroidered heirloom garments passed on in his family.
Factsheet
Traditionally, the art of zardozi used only gold and silver wire along with precious gems, but with time, dabka (a combination of gold and silk threads), kasav (silver or gold-plated silver threads) and bullion (copper and brass coated threads) replaced them. People who prefer less shiny work go for coiled metal threads like nakshi and kora Mukaish, fareesha and French Knots are finer forms of zardozi Flowers,
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