Caring for a velvet or silk piece after the wedding
Store it flat, keep it dry and let it breathe twice a year.
Zardozi, dori and gota: a short guide
Three kinds of embroidery you will hear about at your appointment, and what each one does.
Zardozi is metal thread embroidery, done on a wooden frame called an adda. The karigar uses coiled wires, flat strips and small beads in gold or silver tones, couched down with a needle. It catches the light and is heavy, so it is used where the eye should rest: the border, the blouse and the motifs on the skirt.
Dori work uses a fine cord, usually silk or cotton, laid in patterns and stitched down. It gives texture rather than shine, and it is lighter, which is why we use it for reception lehengas and for areas that need to move, like the lower skirt.
Gota patti began in Rajasthan. Narrow ribbons of metallic lace are cut into shapes and appliquéd onto the fabric. It is bright, quick to work compared with zardozi and very light, so it suits daytime functions and mehendi outfits.
Most of our pieces combine two of these. At your appointment we bring samples of each on your chosen fabric, so you can see how they sit together before anything is cut.
