Zari is India’s luxurious gold-and-silver thread embroidery — trace its Mughal-era history, decline, revival and the motifs that define zari work.

Chikankari is Lucknow’s delicate white hand-embroidery — explore its history, the making process, stitch types and how to care for chikankari outfits.

Five elegant ways to style timeless Chikankari — from salwar suits and sarees to lehengas, kurtas and flared skirts.

By Somdyuti Bhattacharyya Zardosi, Zar-dauzi or Zardozi is a sort of embroidery found in the Middle East and India. The word Zardozi means gold weaving. Zardosi is an elaborate and equally hefty type of metallic embroidery. Usually, gold or silver thread is employed in tandem with beads, pearls and precious gems. Zardozi is versatile — it is used to adorn garments like salwar suits, lehengas and similar ethnic wear, and accessories like bedsheets, wall hangings, clutches and handbags. Today, Zardozi is popular in the Indian cities of Lucknow and Bhopal. History and origin of Zardozi Gold and silver embroidery has...