Our Crafts

Kani weave Kani is a weaving technique from Kanihama village in Kashmir. The design is built into the fabric itself using small wooden spools called kanis, rather than embroidered on afterwards. Each colour and motif is structurally part of the weave. A single shawl can take anywhere from 6 months to over 2 years to complete depending on the complexity of the pattern. To check authenticity, turn the shawl over — the reverse should mirror the front almost exactly with no loose threads or knots.

Kalamkari Kalamkari means pen work in Persian. It is a hand-painting tradition from Andhra Pradesh where artisans use natural dyes derived from plants and minerals to draw directly onto fabric. There are two schools: the Srikalahasti style, which is entirely freehand using a bamboo pen, and the Machilipatnam style, which uses carved wooden blocks. Authentic Kalamkari uses no synthetic dyes. Slight irregularity in lines and colour depth is normal and a sign of genuine hand work.

Zari work Zari refers to fine metallic thread, traditionally made from real gold or silver, woven or embroidered into fabric to create lustrous patterns. It appears in woven brocades as well as in embroidery traditions like Zardozi. Genuine zari has a subtle, warm lustre. Imitation zari, by contrast, tends to look flat or overly bright.

Hand embroidery The two main forms in the Kashmiri tradition are Sozni and Aari. Sozni uses a fine needle to create delicate floral patterns visible from both sides of the fabric. Aari uses a hooked needle to produce chain-stitch designs, typically denser and bolder. In both cases, look for consistent stitch tension and clean junctions where different colours meet.