Costume Jewellery

For the hi-fashion women's of today there's nothing quite like the offbeat style of self adornment….pick the style that suits you most! For, with the passing of centuries, the old appears offbeat today, having an irresistible lure for women the world over.

India's one of the most important countries for the manufacture and export of costume jewellery.

Varanasi is famous for its glass beads made form fused glass rods, while Purdilpur is famous for black glass beads.

Ferozabad has a rich selection of fragile and delicate lightweight beads. German silver jewellery created to modern tastes is made in Agra, while Meerut produces exquisite metal jewellery.

Tribal Jewellery

India has a large tribal population. Their jewellery is a major attraction within the country as well as aboard. The adornment fashioned from flowers, leaves, stones of creepers and fruits are unbelievably charming, shells, seeds and berries rudraksha being the most celebrated. Shell bracelets of W. Bengal, specially filigreed gold bracelets will, for certain, capture your heart.

Paintings

Floor Paintings

When we come to a later period, we find a definite established tradition of paintings on various objects, particularly floors, walls and on intimate objects of everyday use, and in most instances the act being associated with some ritual. The Chola rulers in the south, made extensive use of kolam, floor designs. These decorations done only by women are amongst the most expressive of folk-arts. They are known by different parts of the country, alpana in Bengal, aripana in Bihar, and kolam in the south.

Wall Paintings

The painting on walls have deeper themes, also narrative in a series of panels. Apart from their decorative purpose, they also constitute a form of visual education like picture books from which one learns of one’s heritage.Wall paintings in Punjab, outer Delhi and Rajasthan are usually made at festivals and special occasions like marriages.

Phad Paintings

Phad paintings are predominantly yellow, red and green coloured long scrolls carried by the Bhopas itinerant balladers of Rajasthan, who narrated in song the legend of Pabuji- a local hero- on auspicious occasions to the accompaniment of the folk instrument Ravanhatta made by the Joshis of Shahpur, near Bilwara. Phads are now also available in smaller panels portraying single incidents or characters from the epic.

Madhubani

The wall paintings of Madhubani are joyous expressions of the women of Madhubani, Bihar. The lively compositions and the vibrant colour used to paint them are generally drawn form Indian mythology.

Textiles

The textile of India demonstrate skillful weaving techniques, inimitable colour combinations and fascinating designs that make them a class apart in domestic & overseas markets.

Brocade textiles

Varanasi, an important silk weaving centre is famous not only for its brocade or kinkab, but also for the wide variety of techniques and styles.Varanasi, is also famous for the tanchoi saree which resembles a fine miniature. Its origin can be traced to three Indian Parsi brothers by the name of Choi. In tanchoi saree the designs are always floral with interspersing of birds. Mubarakpur, is one of the important silk weaving centres in the area.Each region has its typical technical skills and variations and the silk of Mysore, Kanchipuram, Murshidabad and Kashmir are as well known as the cotton sarees of Bengal or the cotton and silk maheshwaris of Madhya Pradesh.

Embroidery

In the field of ornamentation, embroidery alone can match jewellery in splendour. It is an expression of emotions, rendered with patient labour which induces grace and elegance into article of everyday use.

The chicken work of Lucknow, patterned on lace is delicate and subtle. The charm lies in the minuteness of the floral motifs. Stitches used are satin stitch, button-hole stitch, dar stitch, knot stitch, netting and applique work which brings a charming shadowy effect on lace.

Embroidery done in metal wires by kalabattu or zari as it is popularly called, is in a class by itself. The ground material used is heavy silk, velvet or satin. Salma sitara, katori, seed pearls, are used for decoration. Kamdani is used for weaving apparel such as scarves, veils, caps etc

Hand Block Printing

The fabric is further decorated by printing designs on it. Hand block printing in India was the chief occupation of the chhipas- a community of printers. They used metal or wooden blocks to print designs on the fabrics by hand. This technique is in vogue even today.

The great colour belt in India extends from the interior of Sind through the deserts of Kutch, Katiawar, and Gujarat.

Ethnic Dresses

Smile, but do not laugh if you see a young French woman wearing a Kashmiri shikara dress or Rajasthani ghagra and choli. India being a land of various communities, you can be sure of falling to temptation of buying at least half a dozen ethnic dresses from various parts of the country.

Furniture

Cane & Moonj

For those who prefer ethnic with the raw look, India offers a superb selection of baskets made of moonj grass. These are available in attractive blends of traditional designs and modern functional utility.

Decorative Work

Patra furniture is plated with white metal which is intricately carved and engraved. This exquisite metal work which once adorned the furniture in the palaces of the royalties, is popular even today and is pride of Rajasthan. From Kashmir and many parts of Rajasthan come exquisitely carved furniture.

Floor Coverings

Carpets
Pleasing to the eye and soothing for the mind, the floor coverings of India are heart-winners.

The Mughal emperors provided patronage to this art and raised it to lofty heights, with Agra being one of the oldest carpet centers. Today it is a compact industry and does both traditional as well as modern designs.

High quality carpets are produced mostly in three varieties-Persian, Turkoman and Aubusson.

The carpets of India are universally admired not only for their original patterns, fine wool and rich colours, but also for being produced in sizeable quantities of acceptable commercial quality.

Dhurries
The brilliantly coloured durries are also an expression of the imagination of the craftsperson of India. Exciting colours, forms, shapes and vibrant images characterize this delightful art form.

Jute floor Coverings & Runners
Being an important center of world's jute production, the craftsmen of West Bengal have made use of this product extensively in an exquisite manner to create several hues, sizes and designs, which represent Indian skills par excellence. Moreover, it is for certain, that it will not pinch you pocket.