Kutch Embroidery

Kutch embroidery is an evolving expression of the complex craft and textile traditions of the Rabaris, a nomadic tribe in Gujarat. This folk embroidery is done using cotton or silk thread on cotton, silk and satin-like material. Usually, the motifs are inspired by daily life, ancient beliefs and rituals, but they vary from place to place. Each community in Kutch has its own distinctive style of needlework. There are six distinct hand embroidery styles: the Sindh-Kutch regional styles of suf, khaarek, and paako, and the ethnic styles of Rabari, Garasia Jat, and Mutava. Each embroidery stitch has a special name to help identify it. Although they are mostly simple to execute, when you put them together, the results can be extremely complex.