Zardozi is a heavy, baroque embroidery method wherein a needle and thread are used to weave gold threads or curls, pearls, and sequins onto the textile. For generations, Banaras' Zardozi artisans have been producing brass insignias and insignias for both domestic and international markets.
The artform
Known as the "queen of all handworks," Zardozi was formerly a luxury reserved for the nobility. Copper is currently used in place of pure gold and silver, which were used in the past. The muthiya, a unique type of wooden needle with a bent metal point, is used in zardozi sewing to extract threads from beneath fabric. The artists can sew with both hands when working with this type of embroidery.
GI tag
This elaborate style of embellishment received GI tag in 2013.