The craft · Jaipur + Kashmir
Aari
Hook-work embroidery — fast, fine, structural. The architecture under most heavy hand-embroidery.
Aari uses a fine crochet-like hook to draw thread up through the fabric in a continuous chain stitch. It is the foundation craft under most heavily embellished Indian wear — zardozi sequences, mirror work attachments, resham detailing — all start with an aari outline.
Done well, aari is barely visible — it does the structural work of holding the surface embroidery in place. Done as its own decoration, it can be exquisite, especially in tone-on-tone work where the thread reads as texture rather than colour.
Aratrikkaz uses aari finishing on the placket of our menswear and the borders of our blouses. Always tone-on-tone. Always by hand.
Pieces using Aari
Other crafts