Phulkari is an embroidery technique which originated in Punjab and
literally means flower work. Traditional to the region, the craft is
done on various garments such as, shawls, scarves, wedding lehengas and
traditional Patiala outfits from the region. The Phulkari done on
wedding clothes is known as bagh which means garden and has always been a
part of important and auspicious occasions such as birth, weddings and
festivals.
Phulkari is done on cotton fabrics using
threads which are manually spun, woven and then pigmented using natural
pigments. According to Punjabi wedding customs,
the bride is supposed to walk to the mandap under a phulkari woven
dupatta which would be held over her head by her brothers.
Traditionally a Phulkari is woven by close family members of the bride.
The embroidery is done on the wrong side of the cloth, and the pattern
is controlled by counting of the thread. The craft reflects the rich
and colourful culture of the region.
Here are some ideas on how you can incorporate Phulkari at your wedding. We think it’s perfect for a function like an Indian mehendi
as it’s vibrant and fun, even for your decor. You could use it in the
form of Phulkari inspired colourful cushion covers or phulkari inspired
giveaways such as scarves, dupattas or clutches.
Phulkari has gained popularity over the years and Indian designers
are taking effort to revive the craft. You can see many designers
drawing inspiration from this art to create a whole range at fashion
weeks. The traditional colour palette has changed from bright and
colourful to more pastel shades for the ramp with finer and delicate
motifs. Checkout this amazing Floral embroidered Phulkari Stole
available on Exclusively.In
Not only the designers, even Bollywood is drawing inspiration from
the lovely art form. Kareena looked absolutely stunning in the Phulkari
embroidered outfit in the movie Jab We Met designed by the most renowned
designer of Bollywood – Manish Malhotra. The hot pink and orange
Phulkari embroidered outfit with lovely colourful embroidery and gold
sequin made a fashion statement!
Another recent movie where phulkari was incorporated was, ‘Tanu Weds
Manu’. Namratha Jani the costume designer created a very colourful
phulkari halter which Kangna is wearing over a white shirt in the movie!
We think it’s a great art form and must be revived before it dies or
becomes extinct. You must have at least one outfit with the lovely
handicraft in your trousseau; like a phulkari inspired Indian outfit or
it could even be a dress!
