Bandhani is not embroidery but resistance — thousands of tiny points tied by hand before the cloth meets the dye. Untied, they leave constellations of white. Genuine bandhani has slightly irregular dots; the irregularity is the signature of the hand.
The process
- MarkingThe pattern of dots marked on plain cloth.
- TyingEach point pinched and bound — thousands per piece.
- DyeingThe cloth dyed, sometimes in several passes.
- OpeningThe ties released; the pattern appears.
