Phulkari

Phulkari Latest News

Several years after Punjab’s traditional embroidery, Phulkari, secured the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag, the craftspersons who keep the centuries-old practice alive continue to struggle for recognition and a sustainable livelihood.

About Phulkari

• Phulkari, meaning “flower work,” is a traditional embroidery art of Punjab.
• There are various theories about the origin of phulkari. 
• Some believe this embroidery dates back to the 7th century CE, while others suggest it originated from Iran, where it was known as Gulkari.
• However, distinct styles of phulkari have been identified, making it uniquely Punjabi.
• References to phulkari can be found in ancient texts, folk legends, and literature, with the earliest mention in the 18th-century Punjabi literature. 
• It symbolizes life and is intricately linked to the birth of a girl child in Punjabi families, where mothers and grandmothers start embroidering Phulkari dupattas upon her birth.  
• Girls learned to embroider early, with the number of phulkaris reflecting the family’s status and marking cultural milestones.
• It received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2010.

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Phulkari Features

• It’s an amalgam of cotton and silk. 
• The cloth used is usually hand-woven thick cotton, called ‘ khadder’. While the threads are thin, lustrous, and breakable silk, called ‘pat’. 
• The cloth is usually dyed red, but can be white, grey, or black also. 
• And the treads are a myriad of colors, ranging from the rich dark pink to soothing off-whites.
• The stitch is intricate, small, and completely fills the cloth. The stitch can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal to create the shadow effect. 
• Phulkari embroidery makes use of the least complicated patterns to create extremely intriguing designs. 
• The designs and patterns can vary from geometrical figures to flowers to local fauna. Peacocks, elephants, birds, and camels appear frequently.
• Phulkari’s product range includes embroidered chaddars, dupattas, and stoles, traditionally worn by brides or for ceremonies.

News: TI