The Crafts
Nothing is sent out. The dyeing, the frame work, the finishing — every stage happens in the studio, by hands we know by name.
Choosing between them
Which of the five crafts should I choose?
Usually you do not choose one in the abstract — you describe the occasion and the piece, and the craft follows. Zardozi carries weight and glow and belongs on a wedding day. Gota patti and mirror work read from a distance without much weight, which suits a mehendi or a garba ground. Aari draws fine detail. Bandhani is the cloth itself rather than something added to it.
Can more than one craft go on a single piece?
Yes, and most bridal pieces carry two or three. A bandhani ground with zardozi at the border and mirror work through the body is an ordinary combination. What matters is that the density is placed rather than spread — hand work in one region photographs better and wears lighter than the same hours scattered evenly.
Which craft is lightest to wear?
Gota patti, generally, because it is ribbon appliqué rather than metal thread laid over padding. Mirror work is light too. Zardozi is the heaviest by some distance, which is exactly why it is worth deciding where it goes rather than asking for it everywhere.
Does hand work cost more than machine embroidery?
Considerably, and the difference is hours rather than materials — a bridal piece carries roughly two hundred to six hundred of them. Every piece is priced before any work begins, so you know the figure before anything is cut.