AARI WORK
The choice of royalty, aari embroidery is said to be introduced to Kashmir in the 12th century by the Persian craftsmen who traveled to Kashmir and made their home. Aari work is tedious embroidery work, demanding exceptional skills and detail. Kashmir, due to its rich heritage in embroidery, consists of many ‘hidden gems’ who bring to life vividly created designs passed down from centuries.
In this artwork, a sharp-edged needle known as ‘muthia’ is used to create a chain stitch kind of imprints and designs. An outline with the help of pencil lead is used to create a design on the surface, after which the needle is used to pierce, where the embroidery follows and the design comes to life. The Aari work involves complex-looking designs, each distinct and beautiful from the other.