Indian Accessories

Indian garments with their exceptionally unique hand made embroidery works have a distinct look in the global market. Today when fabric, pattern,

color schemes, embellishment and accessories could be easily created at any time anywhere, a mere designer’s label is not sufficient for a garment to be trusted. But the Indian outfits with its embroidery, that skill and finesse, cannot be generated elsewhere.

Zardozi is the most popular and sought after embroidery style among Indian fashion designers. Formerly, this traditional work was done in gold and silver threads. But now plain silk threads, producing a metallic sheen, are used to decorate Indian dresses. To make the impressions gum and chalk from paper stencils are used. Needles of different sizes are used to do this work by hand.

Chikankari or Chikan work is another popular variety of embroidery. The younger generation of chikankari workers in Lucknow readily agreed to experiment with latest fabrics like chiffon and also to make innovations on their techniques. These innovations hit the Mumbai fashion market instantly and these highly transformed embroidery works are found on crinkled cottons, appliqué and clothes with tassels. Young designers started to apply this work on the borders of silk materials white dupattas and stoles. Silk saris, cholis, lehngas and salwar suits in red, blue and green having chikankari work combined with small pearls and sequins are popular among present fashionable women. Crinkled lehngas, short kurtas and short skirts decorated with chikan works also create waves among teens and youths.

Then there are two embroidery forms trying to make a revival. Phulkari and sali/tube works have found place on wedding suits like tight kurtis and long skirts. The other form bidri work appears on cocktail saris, kurtis and salwar suits. Certain embroidery forms comprising mirrors, beads, stones, shells and even jute ropes embellish several modern latest casual outfits such as strapless halters, tops with one shoulder, back open blouses, lachhas, skirts having asymmetrical hemlines, parallels etc.

Thus modern fashion designers produce garments along with traditional embroidery forms in a smart way making Indian dresses stand out in the global market.