Brief Overview Of The Zardozi Embroidery Practice

Zardozi is a special type of embroidery work which originated somewhere in Persia. It came to India by the Mughal conquerors. The word Zardozi originates from a Persian word where 'zar' means gold, while the word 'dozi' means embroidery.

Thus, as per the name, the process of Zardozi embroidery work refers directly to a process of making use of metallic bind threads which are used for sewing embellishment on the fabric. It is very heavy as well as intricate design type which was brought in our country during the Mughal times and is still widely in demand.

Thousands of artisans and experts found interest in Zardozi embroidery work. The base of artisans passed on the trade to their family and the local communities. Ever since that time, Lucknow had been the prime centre of this art form.

However, over time, the art spilled in every direction which even considers parts of Maharashtra. Although the exact reason regarding the origination of this art form is unknown, there are several romantic stories which envelope the origin. Today, the Zardozi art form is common only in a few countries, namely, India, Pakistan, and Iran.

History of Zardozi Embroidery
The Zardozi style has its roots somewhere back from the Vedic Period because there had been certain mentions in the Vedic literature. The original process of this embroidery was known as Kalabatun, which made use of silk threads which were wrapped in gold or silver. The wires of these precious metals were used for decoration the satin or the velvet fabrics.

Apart from the costly threads, other embellishments like sequin, beads, and various other precious stones were used to making it look a masterpiece. Sometimes, even pearl was used to add in the real beauty.

During the Mughal era, it was widely used at the royalty. It was used for decorating of the tent walks in the form of tapestries and designer wall hangings. These embroidery works were even used as an accessory to decorate the royal elephants and horses too.

The spread of the Art Form
Lucknow had turned into a central hub where this embroidery technique was greatly practised during the reign of Aurangzeb, around the 12th century. It had become the imperial art form under the Mughals.

The royal patronage encouraged the artists greatly to spread the art form all over the country. The art crept slowly into the Indian soil and is still now considered as one of the most opted artwork. There are several famous centers where artisans undertake Zardozi embroidery work in Maharashtra. However, the city of Nawabs still stands on the top of the list for its extrinsic designs of zardozi.

Change in The Art Form
Well, over time, with rising prices, the use of gold and silver wires has come down. Artisans have stopped using these expensive materials and now use synthetic threads paired up with copper wires which are polished in golden or silver hue.

Although the real flavour of authenticity is not available now, the beauty and uniqueness have not lost its glory. There is a huge percentage of the crowd who prefer having this classic artwork on their sarees and lehenga, making it one of the most highly demanded embroidery work.