Kathiawad Embroidery
Embroidery
History
Gujarat's embroidery is among the most intricate and diverse in India. A myth explains its origins: Krishna freed a demon’s captives—women from different regions—who brought their embroidery styles to Saurashtra, enriching its craft. Kathi embroidery, the oldest and most significant, traces back to Karna from the Mahabharata. As Kathi cattle herders traveled, they adopted and integrated new themes, techniques, and moods into their embroidery, shaping Gujarat’s vibrant needlework tradition.
Raw Materials and Tools
The raw materials for Kathiawad embroidery include vibrant fabrics, colorful silk and cotton threads, small mirrors, beads, and decorative motifs. Essential tools used are hand needles for stitching, scissors for cutting, embroidery frames for holding fabric taut, and awls for precise detailing.
Process
The process of Kathiawad embroidery involves hand-stitching intricate designs, attaching mirrors, and embellishing the fabric with meticulous care. There are six distinct styles in Kathiawad embroidery, namely: Heer Bharat (long stitches), Abhala Bharat (buttonhole stitch), chain stitch embroidery of Bhavnagar, Sindhi taropa (interlacing stitch), applique work, and Moti Bharat.
Design and Color
Kathiawad embroidery is known for its vibrant and contrasting color schemes, inspired by the region’s natural surroundings. Chain stitch is typically done in white or other colors, while interlacing stitches use blue, crimson red, indigo, green, and yellow. Mirror work predominantly features yellow, green, blue, and red. Motifs include florals, peacocks, animals, birds, and trees, often arranged in mirror patterns. Symbolically, the peacock represents luck, while the tree of life signifies abundance and wealth.
Product Range
Kathiawad embroidery is applied on wall hangings, divan covers, bolster covers, ghagras and cholis, children’s caps, flared petticoats, Punjabi dresses, frocks, blouses, sarees, and sofa covers.
Additional Information
