Phulkari is a traditional Punjabi embroidery style — the name means "flower work" — known for its vivid, geometric floral patterns hand-stitched onto shawls and dupattas. It's one of Punjab's most treasured folk crafts.
What does Phulkari look like?
Phulkari is famous for bright, bold threadwork — often in shades of red, orange, pink, and gold — stitched in dense geometric and floral motifs. In its most elaborate form, called bagh ("garden"), the embroidery covers the entire base cloth so completely that the fabric beneath almost disappears.
How is it made?
Traditionally, Phulkari is worked by hand using a simple darning stitch in silk floss thread on coarse cotton cloth. The pattern is counted and built stitch by stitch from the back of the fabric — slow, skilled, patient work. This is craft in the truest sense, the kind a karigar spends years mastering.
What is its cultural significance?
Phulkari has long been tied to milestones — births, weddings, and family heirlooms. Historically, pieces were embroidered by women for their daughters and passed down through generations, carrying memory and love in every stitch. A Phulkari shawl was never just fabric; it was a story.
Phulkari today
The craft has seen a modern revival, appearing on contemporary clothing, accessories, and home decor. Like all handmade work, its value lies in the human hand behind it — something mass production simply can't replicate.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Phulkari and Bagh?
Phulkari leaves some of the base cloth visible between motifs; Bagh covers the cloth entirely with embroidery.
Is Phulkari still made by hand?
Traditional Phulkari is hand-embroidered, though machine-made imitations also exist; the handmade pieces remain the most prized.
We're big believers in the value of handmade — it's the thinking behind our craft pieces and our hoodies collection, with hand-painted designs on the way.