India is blessed with cultural heritage, customs, and traditions, and is truly a land of wonders. The greatest treasures of India are its art and crafts. One such craft is the Indian embroidery work, which resembles our rich cultural heritage. In this blog, you will read about the Best Embroidery Styles In India. So, let’s get started…

India has been imbibed through various invasions and settlements and has been influenced by different cultures, hence the embroidery from every part of India has its own flavor. The embroidery styles in India done by Indian craftsmen have been fawning all around the globe. So, here are some best embroidery styles that have been inspiring generations of tailors and designers.

1. Zardosi

Zari Zardosi is an ancient art of sewing gold and silver threads on a fabric. This art came into India from Central Asia in the 12th century and has been used to embellish royal garments since the Mughal dynasty. Original Zardosi work used gold, silver thread with pearls, and precious stones. But in today’s modern world, this Zardozi work uses a combination of copper wire with golden or silver threads. Surat is the world’s largest producer of all types of zari namely threads, laces, cantile, ribbons, borders, etc.

2. Gota Embroidery

Gota work or Gotta patti is a traditional embroidery which originated in Rajasthan. Gota laces or Gota trims were traditionally made using real gold and silver strips. They are used for embellishment in sarees, suits and ethnic wears. Small pieces of Zari ribbon are applied onto the fabric with the edges sewn down that creates elaborate patterns. 

3. Chikankari

Chikankari which is popularly known as Chikan is an embroidery artwork famous in Lucknow. The word ‘Chikan’ simply means embroidery work. This simple and elegant handwork on the garment gives a classy look to the outfit. The main essence of the garment is simple design and even motifs are added to give a rich look to the dress. It is one of the most used fabrics by Indian people. 

4. Banjara

Banjara embroidery comes from the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is one of the most exquisite and artistic forms of embroidery. The word ‘Banjara’ also known as Lamani, Bankara Lambani are a group of semi-nomadic people from Rajasthan. Their embroidery is a combination of different threads, patterns, designs, and mirror work. It is due to the combination of vibrant colors which make the garment look more appealing.

5. Kantha

Kantha embroidery is craftwork that comes from the Indian states of Orissa, West Bengal, and Tripura. Traditionally, this embroidery was done by rural women with simple running stitches along the edges on sarees and dhotis. It also includes a darning stitch, satin, and loop stitch. Characterized by birds, animals, flowers, and day to day activity designs, this form of embroidery is being used in sarees and salwar suits. This stitching is also used in quilts and is commonly known as Nakshi Kanth. 

6. Phulkari

Phulkari is the embroidery artwork from the Indian state of Punjab. Phulkari means floral work but nowadays it also covers motifs and geometric shapes. The stitches of the embroidery are done on the reverse side of the cloth so that the design appears on the front of the cloth. The fabric used here is a naturally dyed khadi cloth. The Phulkari dupatta is the most commonly used dupatta by Indian women for various functions and ceremonies.

7. Rajasthani Patchwork

Rajasthani Patchwork embroidery includes small pieces of material which are stitched together in a decorative pattern with the topmost layer of the piece with the layers of cloth padding underneath. It is done on cotton, velvet, or silk with a variety of fine stitches and threads. It includes squares, triangles, hexagons, strips, etc.

8. Kashidikari

Kashidikari embroidery is also known as Kashmiri embroidery work which evolved during the Mughal reign. Inspired by the local scenes of Kashmir, this type of embroidery includes the flora of the state. One of the unique features of Kashidikari is the Kashmiri teapot. It uses simple stitches and is done on silk and woolen fabric.

9. Faux Mirror Embroidery

Faux Mirror work embroidery is also known as Shisha work which is popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan. It uses various shapes of mirrors and vibrant color threads. It is available in 3 types. I.e Hand-blown Shisha, Machine-cut Shisha, and Shisha embroidery. Lehanga cholis, ghagras with this mirror work are used in the Navratri festival in India. 

Conclusion

From this blog, you must have got to know the Best embroidery styles in India and its cultural heritage. If you are thinking of getting a garment stitched with embroidery work, then Needles & Thimbles is one of the best online stitching services in Delhi and the NCR region. We have fulfilled more than 1,00,000 + stitching orders all over Delhi NCR. Our tailors are spread across the entire region making the service super fast and resulting in faster delivery of your stitching orders. 

To know more, visit Needles & Thimbles.