Embroidery is an adornment done on fabric enriched by a needle and thread. Women are the pioneers in creating perfect delicate embroidered garments since ancient times. In India, it has been practiced since the sixteenth-century and can be traced to the prehistoric wall paintings and figurines, and sculptures found in the Indus Valley. Our country’s diversified customs and cultures lead to the benevolence of hailing to the beauty of many wonderful embroidered patterns, techniques, and styles. Designs in Indian embroidery are formed based on the texture and the design of the fabric and the stitch. From the four corners of our country, the majorly identified embroidery names are Kantha in the east, Chikankari in the north, Gota in the west, and Kamal Kadai in the south.
Embroidery in India is both opulent and a work of the common folk. In opulence, one can only think about Mughal karigari work such as Zardosi, which once used gold and silver threads for embroidery. Kantha, Phulkari, and Kathi are the works that came from the women in rural homes piecing together bits of fabrics and documenting their lives in the designs. Embroidery is not only a decoration but also tells stories. Each motif adorned signifies a meaning. Most popularly, floral designs are used in embroidery to signify various meanings but, most importantly, bring joy.
Floral prints in clothing are cheerful to look at and provide a subtle feminine charm. It can carry different feelings just by a change of color or the type of flower used. Neha Vaswani, a designer in India, uses floral designs to portray elegance and a distinctive charm on unconventional flowy and romantic silhouettes. Below are a few pieces from the designer that demonstrate her unique creativity.
This set has a very intricately embroidered blouse. The multicolored thread work creates a beautiful contrast to the icy blue color of the blouse. The saree border also carries the same embroidery design. The highlight in the design is the red tulips wrapped by green vines and delicate pink flowers.
