Why Hand Embroidery Has Stood The Test Of Time

I am someone who travels all over the world, in my capacity of a fashion blogger – I get to see first-hand how the fashion world is changing and evolving and what are the new trends that are emerging. I see new designers bringing about new ideas and designs to the forefront, and then I also see the big established fashion houses trying to better what they have already created. But the one thing that I always notice is that some trends always tend to linger around, and no matter what the dissidents might say, there are certain trends that are here to stay. Embroidery happens to be one of them – while there are those who would say that embroidery is old fashioned, those in the fashion know-how will tell you that this intricate hand work will be around for a really long time.

In order to understand why embroidery is still so loved in the fashion world, I tried to trace to history of this ancient craft. What surprised me the most is that the origins of embroidery can be traced all the way back to 30,000BC, because during archaeological excavations, several clothes, including footwear and hats were found, which had heavy embroidery done on them. Similarly, I read articles about how during an excavation in Siberia, shells were found with embroidery on them and these were dated to around 5000 BC. Pictures from ancient China depicted embroidery that was done using silk thread and precious stones. However, the embroidery in the manner that we recognise it in today, evolved in the Middle East and perhaps China and what had probably started as a decorative method to join animal hides, eventually evolved into something incredibly artistic. There are several evidences that show people from the past wearing clothes and accessories that had been embroidered. 

Hand embroidery design graduated to the next level during the 1100s when beads and pearls were used and started to spread all over Europe. Eventually, bead and pearl embroidery as well as intricate designs became common place. As a matter of fact, the elaboration on the embroidery became a symbol of opulence and several cultures including those in Persia, India, China and the Byzantium empires, embroidery had arrived. Embroidery thrived in India and the Indian sub-continent and several variations of the form emerged – from those which used cotton thread to those which used silk, from pearl and precious stones being used to mirror work. 

With the change in times, embroidery saw a dip – people no longer considered embroidery as stylish. In the Indian sub-continent, embroidery was deigned as something traditional and was used only for outfits that would be used for traditional occasions. However, the arts continued to flourish in certain areas – such as phulkari in Punjab and chikan in Lucknow. While these works were still recognised in these regions, the takers for these intricate arts were dwindling. 

The renaissance for embroidery arrived a few decades when maverick designers from not only India, but around the world started recognising what an intricate art embroidery is and how it can be used even on the most modern of outfits. Very soon, embroidery was making a comeback on the international fashion scene and all of a sudden, more and more people were looking for hand embroidery designs for lehenga online and asking their local tailors whether they could get it done. 

These days, everything from sarees to jeans are being embroidered and people are embracing embroidery with open hands and hearts. Recently, I was asked to do a piece on Indian brides and how they were looking for methods by which they could stay modern, yet have a touch with the traditional. For this piece, I spoke to several brides to be as well as recent brides from all over India and I even got to chat with a few brides who were born and brought up outside India, but were still going for the ‘big fat Indian wedding’. Each of these brides was different – while some were entrepreneurs others were working for multinationals, there were those who had just completed their studies and there were some who were specialised professionals. 

However, what was common to all these brides was the fact that all of them wanted to look like the traditional Indian bride on their special day. Several of them spoke about how they had been researching lehenga embroidery work online and were trying to zero in on the perfect design for their wedding lehenga. There were those who had been spending hours with their designers, trying to work out the ideal pattern for their wedding attire. I even spoke to one bride, who actually travelled to several small towns and villages to understand the intricacy of the work she had imagined. She even had photographs to detail her travels and how she had captured the embroidery being done. With the help of these photos, she had been able to have her dream outfit created with exactly the type of embroidery she had envisioned.

There are also several people who are now looking at handwork lehenga online, because they are realising that some arts, such as embroidery, are truly timeless and will always look special. What is heartening to see is that modern day designers have transformed the once ancient art into something a lot more contemporary and a growing number of people are now recognising how wonderful the world of embroidery is. 

Celebrate The Bond Of Sibling Love With IndiaEmporium

There are some bonds that we create in our lifetime, and then there are some bonds that we have from the time we are born. The bond that we have with our parents is one such bond, but perhaps the bond that most people cherish the most is the one they have with their siblings. Whether you have an elder brother or sister, you are sure to have a truly special relationship with them – this is the person you share every secret with; this is the person you share your every joy and sorrow with. At times, they are your partners in crime, and at times, they are the best advisers you could have asked for; there are so many roles that our siblings play in our lives.

One of the best sibling bonds that you can see, especially in India, happens to be the one between a brother and a sister. If the brother is the elder one, he will take care of his younger sister, pretty much in the same way as a father would and if the sister is the older one, then there are several times, when she will don the role of the mother for her younger sibling. No matter what the equation between the brother and sister, when Rakshabandhan arrives, there is a special something in the air. No matter how much they fight, the sister will spend hours trying to find the ideal rakhi for her brother, while the brother will trouble anyone and everyone possible, trying to figure out what would be the best gift for his sister.

Each year you try to top what you did last year for your brother or sister, but this year, doing something truly different should be a lot easier. With IndiaEmporium, choosing that special gift should be a lot easier, simply because the choice here is incredible. Whether you want exclusive outfits, or you want accessories, whether you are looking for a specific colour or want something you saw on a celebrity, chances are that you will find all that and more here. After all, IndiaEmporium is home to all the latest fashion trends and the most happening collections.

Here are just some of the ideas that we have for you this Rakshabandhan:

• If you have a sister, who is finishing school and getting all set to enter college, why not help her create a wardrobe that will work well for college? You could get her some nice kurtas and kurtis, which she will be able to mix and match with leggings, palazzos, skirts or jeans.
• In case your sister is a working woman, you could still get her a range of kurtas and kurtis that she could wear to work. You could also pick out proper salwar-kameez sets, which she can use as formal wear, or you could look at tops that she could wear with formal pants or trousers.
• There is also a truly impressive range of sarees on IndiaEmporium, and from sarees can be used for normal day to day wear, to those which are perfect for parties and special events. IndiaEmporium also has sarees that are perfect for festival times and auspicious occasions.
• If your sister is about to get married, then there is no place to shop than IndiaEmporium, because this is home to some of the finest and latest bridal wear. You can browse through some of the most stunning bridal suits and sarees or you could look for a gorgeous lehenga that your sister could wear for one of her functions.
• In case you are not sure about clothes, you could always buy some accessories that she could use not only for her wedding related events, but also when she wants to get dressed up. From simple earrings to bangles, from necklaces to elaborate mangalsutras, there is so much to choose from here.

However, IndiaEmporium is the best place for clothes that are unique and couture, because this is where you can get clothes made to order. Talk to the design team and not only will they suggest what a good idea for a gift would be, they will also bring that idea to life. All you will have to do is give them an idea of what it is that you want and they will do the rest – from helping you choose which fabrics work best to finalising the colour combination, from assisting you in making the choice for the work that needs to be done on the outfit, to finally creating the attire, there is little that team IndiaEmporium cannot do for you.

With Rakshabandhan around the corner, it is time that you head to IndiaEmporium and start shopping for your sister.  As a special treat for all the brothers indulging in some shopping for their sisters, as well as for the ladies treating themselves to something special for this occasion, IndiaEmporium has treat in store. Buy anything you like from the store and you will get a 30% discount on the product. In order to avail this offer, simply use the coupon code RB30 at checkout.

So, what are you waiting for? Rakshabandhan is almost here! 

Freedom from Fashion Boredom Awaits You This August 15th

Every year, on the 15th of August, India celebrates its Independence Day – the day it finally won its freedom from the British and started its journey to becoming the super power that it has become today. While August 15th is important politically, it is important on several other levels too – this is a day that our country declared to the world that it was no longer a slave to anyone; it declared that it was ready to take its place on the world stage and this was the day that India announced to the world, that in a matter of years, the country would become a trendsetter, in more ways than one.

In the past 71 years, India has seen so many changes – it has emerged as a socio-economic super power, its political clout and standing is being recognised globally. From movies to sports, from technology to start-ups, there are only a rare few domains, where India and Indians are yet to carve their niche. And what is truly heartening to see is that India is also emerging as a name to reckon with, even in the world of fashion.

In the past few years, Indian designers have emerged on the international fashion scene and how! They are bringing Indian traditional fabrics, designs and types of works to the international stage and the way it is being recognised and accepted is truly wonderful. While initially there was a struggle to match up with international designers, it did not take Indian designers long to realise that they had a treasure of chest of ideas right at home. They had incredible fabrics such as silks and cottons, which could be created by local weavers and handloom cottage industries. To make these fabrics vibrant, they have plenty of methods by which they could bring a myriad colours alive on cloth. Once the fabric was ready in a colour they had imagined, they had a treasure trove of works they could use to embellish it. From thread work to stone work, from block printing to hand painting techniques, there was simply so much that the designers could choose from.

And then of course, there were so many types of outfits they could use for their design base – whether they wanted to recreate the saree or reinvent the salwar kameez; from making the anarkali trendy to reimagining the lehengas, there was such a large canvas for the designers to play around with. And the moment Indian designers realised all this, they burst out onto the international fashion scene with a bang. Today, there are several Indian designers who are considered at par with international designers and almost all of them are those who have chosen to stick true to the Indian traditions.

What is interesting to see is that the modern Indian population – men, women and even children have become extremely conscious of what they are wearing, every time, they are stepping out. Gone are the days when the outfit mattered only on special occasions – these days, people want to look their best, every time they are out of the house, This interest in looking sharp, in looking good lead to a spurt in the fashion world and fashion now had to become a lot more accessible. Fashion could no longer be limited to high end boutiques and exclusive designer stores – it had to be sold in such a manner that everyone could get their hands on it and it would reach them, no matter where they were.

This was the time, when fashion turned to technology and both merged so effortlessly, that most people were quite surprised. This was the time, when fashion went online – something that no one could have imagined at the time when India won its freedom. When the internet arrived in India, it brought with it a range of possibilities and taking the fashion world by storm was just one of them. Now, designers from even the most remote part of the country, could reach out the customers who might be sitting in Delhi or Mumbai. This was also the time, when several talented and creative minds saw the opportunity to reach out to a much larger audience.

Fashion websites like IndiaEmporium have taken this opportunity to immense heights, by offering the discerning customer with the widest range of apparel and accessories. Now, no matter which part of the world the customer is in, they can shop for the latest in the world of Indian fashion and have it delivered to their doorstep. As a matter of fact, IndiaEmporium is one of the only websites that offers online customisation services – this means, that you can have your outfit designed from scratch! Could anyone have imagined this, 70 years back?

This August 15th, IndiaEmporium invites you to free your wardrobe from the boring clothes you have inside. Shop at IndiaEmporium and explore the latest trends in salwar-kameez, sarees, kurtas, lehengas, sherwanis, kids wear and more. What’s more, when you shop, you can enjoy up to 30% off, as well as an additional 20% off shop to your heart’s content and when you are done, simply apply the coupon code IND20 and enjoy incredible discounts!

So, what are you waiting for? Come over to IndiaEmporium and free your wardrobe of everything old!