Suppliers of embroidered fabrics leverage indigenous techniques honed through years of experience.

India manufacturers of embroidered fabrics are employing ancient needlework styles to create visually stimulating releases.

	This textile from Silk Fashion Creator boasts zari and zardozi needlework.

Zari, zardozi and aari are among the most popular methods being adopted, especially in upscale models. The first two feature intricate figures in silver and gold thread. While yarns can be made of the actual elements, many companies use polyester variants coated with metallic film as these are more economical. Aari designs have small and fine cotton, silk or metallic stitches. Added embellishments may include beads and sequins.

Suppliers are also turning out embroidered fabrics that highlight chikan, kantha, phulkari and kashmiri techniques. A specialty of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, chikan motifs are customarily formed with white cotton thread, but plants currently utilize yarns in different colors. Chain, hem- and backstitches are applied to produce open, shadow and lacelike patterns.

Kantha is a needlepoint style prevalent in West Bengal. Fabrics usually boast geometric, animal and mythological figures made of running stitches. Scenes from everyday life are common themes as well.

The phulkari technique originated from the Punjab region and involves mostly darning stitches. It is characterized by floral decorations in bright hues.

Kashmiri designs are created using one or two stitching methods. Chain, satin, stem, slanted darn and herringbone are the typical options. Botanical motifs are emphasized.

Mirror and beadwork enhance aesthetics further. In the former, round, square and diamond-shaped reflectors are employed together with red, green, blue, yellow, maroon and black thread.

Plastic, glass and wooden trimmings are adopted in beaded releases. Sequins and rhinestones are other popular ornaments.

India suppliers offer machine- and handmade embroidered fabrics. Very few, however, are equipped with computerized sewing units.

The products are 130 to 150cm wide. Those that reach 280cm are generally for home textiles. Patterns can be flat or raised. Cotton padding is sometimes used to achieve a puffed appearance.

Nearly all kinds of fabrics are suitable as the ground but companies prefer thin, lightweight materials that bring out the motifs better. Both machine- and handcrafted variants are utilized. Most businesses source their requirement locally, although several are able to turn out textiles in-house. Polyester, cotton and silk are among the usual options.

The thread often comes in polyester or rayon. Silk yarns are mainly adopted in high-end releases.

Prices of embroidered fabrics vary depending on the intricacy of the pattern and the procedures involved as these dictate the amount of time and work needed to finish the product. Manually constructed designs are about twice as costly to create compared with those yielded by machines. Materials influence quotes as well.

Low-end models go for $4 to $6 permeter and come in polyester or cotton voile. They have chikan or phulkari embroidery enhanced with mirror work, plastic beads or sequins. Polyester, cotton or rayon thread is employed. Patterns may be machine- or handmade.

Fabrics between $7 and $10 are midrange. Viscose and silk mesh, satin, organza and georgette are the usual ground. Releases underscore the aari and kashmiri styles. Mirrors, and plastic, glass and wooden beads embellish products further.

Pure silk mesh, organza, chiffon and crepe boasting handcrafted aari, zari or zardozi needlework are in the high end. Ranging from $11 to $100, designs are also adorned with beads, sequins, crystals or semiprecious stones.

India’s key export markets for embroidered fabrics are the Middle East, Africa, France, Italy and Mexico.

Product gallery

Product gallery Silk Fashion Creator Model: 1 MOQ: 500m Delivery: 90 days Price: $10 per meter Description: Handmade silk organza; handpainted flowers, leaves; silk aari embroidery; multicolor sequins, glass beads; 54in wide Silk Fashion Creator Model: 2 MOQ: 500m Delivery: 90 days Price: $15 per meter Description: Silk; zari, zardozi embroidery; sequins; 54in wide Topman Exports Ltd Model: 9516 MOQ: 1,000 pieces Delivery: 60 days Price: $150 per motif Description: Nylon; silk aari embroidery; sequins; 145cm wide Note: This article "Embroidered fabrics emphasize traditional art" was originally published by Global Sources, a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers and India suppliers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research. All price quotes in this report are in US dollars unless otherwise specified. FOB prices were provided by the companies interviewed only as reference prices at the time of interview and may have changed. Disclaimer: All product images are provided by the companies interviewed and are for reference purposes only. Those product images featuring products with trademarks, brand names or logos are not intended for sale. We, our affiliates, and our affiliates' respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents or contractors, do not accept and will not have any responsibility or liability for product images (or any part thereof) which infringe on any intellectual property or other rights of a third party.