Phulkari Bagh

Handicraft Process | Beading | Bronze casting | Carving | Chikan | Embroidery | Enameling | Engraving | EPNS

Phulkari refers to some kind of “flower working”. This word was also used for the word embroidery. However the changes were made with time and “Phulkari” was only used to refer to embroidered head cloth/odini. Easy, ordinary and lightly embroidered odini and shawls, which are used for the daily use, are known as Phulkaris.

There is this other set of garments that cover almost every part of the body and are especially made for special occasions and ceremonies which are commonly known as “Baghs” which means “garden”. Phulkari Bagh was normally flaunted by women all over Punjab during special occasions such as marriage and other similar cheerful festivals. Typically these were embroidered by the ladies so that it can come to their own use or to the use of their family members but they were usually not meant for selling purpose.

Hence it is considered to be a truly domestic art that not only satisfies the profound craving for creation and imagination but also managed to bring in vibrant color that enhanced the complete setting in the olden times. It was more of a “true folk art” than anything else.

The most important uniqueness of Phulkari embroidery entails the use of darn stitch which is carried out on the back side of cotton fabric with colored silken thread.

There were these women residing in Punjab who were engaged in this profession and at the end of the day they had some of the most interesting and fascinating designs and patterns which were solely carried out by their skillful handling of the darn stitch.

They derive their stitches from the use of the darning stitch which are placed in diverse directions such as straight, upright, parallel and crossways.

Filigree | Hand Printing | Inlay | Painting | Phulkari Bagh | Polishing | Tie and Die | Weaving

In this process, embroidery basically beautifies the cloth. However in Bagh it works slightly different, here it covers the entire garment for the very reason that the base of the cloth must not be seen.