phulkari

Hopelessly in love with the phulkari embroidery? Well, long before fashion weeks and designer labels, there was Phulkari. And trust me, it needed no dramatic runways and couture shows to be extraordinary. Phulkari, from the Punjabi "phul" (flower) and "kari" (work), translates simply to "flower work." But there is nothing simple about it. It is Punjab's most intimate art form: conceived by women, carried by women, and passed between generations. The same way gold jewellery or whispered prayers are passed with fierce and quiet devotion.  Stitched Into History  Some historians believe the style was popular as long ago as the 7th century, with a biography of Indian emperor Harshavardhana describing people "embroidering flowers and leaves on the cloth from the reverse side" — which preci...