Muqaish - Metallic Embroidery

Muqaish: Metallic Embroidery

Like scattered stars on flowing skies,
Muqaish or Badla, adds a glistening
Shimmer to fabric. With its origins in
Lucknow, this metallic embroidery
Used real gold and silver for the nawabs,
Its royal patrons.

Muqaish work requires painstaking effort of
Passing thin metallic wires deftly through
Fabric to create myriad motifs. ‘Fardi ka kaam’
~patterns made out of dots, is the most
recognized style of muqaish and often
Accompanies ’Chikankari’.

Due to the time consuming process and
Lack of availability of skilled artisans,
Muqaish is an art that requires more
Patronage.

A film commissioned for L’affaire.