Mustard Sari from Kashmir with Intricate Sozni Embroidery by Hand on Borders

How to wear a Sari

A simple term with straight thrust, ‘Sozni’ consists of ‘sozn’, a Persian word meaning ‘needle’, and the suffix ‘i’ conjointly meaning ‘needle-work’. It does not refer to any particular kind of stitch or to a set of technical requirements, it only denotes that the embroidery on a Sozni shawl is pure needle-work done by hands and is intricate, exquisite and distinctive. What actually conditions the needle-work to deserve the status of Sozni embroidery is its exceptional fineness, great perfection, flawless finish, elegance and the highest quality of the workmanship, for these are the merits of the needle-work that define Sozni as an exclusive class of embroidery and give it its distinction. Inspired by pure aesthetics, unlike Kantha and many other forms of embroidery that strive to represent legends and mythical themes, Sozni embroidery represents merely motifs such as revealed beauty and the mystique of simplicity.