PEARL WORK EMBROIDERY
Pearls have always been an oriental heritage as they owe their early origins in China. Pearls that come in various colours, shapes and sizes eventually began to be used as embellishments in the form of intricate embroideries in the attire of royalty in Europe, China, Russia, India and other countries. They were used for embellishing headgear, various exquisite vases and decorative items.
Moti work has been done over centuries in India from the time of the Mughals till date on various fabrics ranging from Silk to Cotton. This bead work is also performed on various articles too as embellishments. Moti work is usually combined with other forms of embroidery such as Crystals, Zari and Zardosi to give it a shimmer and elegant appeal. Moti work is currently becoming more fashionable with a lot of designers opting for this type of embroidery. Nevertheless, the most skilled Moti embroidery artisans can be found in Kutch, Kathiawar and Telangana, as they have been doing it for centuries by combining pearls with other beads for the classic traditional look.
Moti work mainly depicts various floral motifs, plants and animals. It is primarily inspired by nature for most of the work, however, today a contemporary twist has been given to Moti work in order to popularize the craft amongst the present generation and hence geometrical patterns are also commonplace in Moti work. In the present scenario, Moti work has made a great comeback with a lot of fashion designers taking the craft to the international level. This exquisite craft has been given a contemporary appeal through fashionable sarees, suits, bags, clutches and even shoes. Moti work is being used in head accessories like clips, hairbands and other products, apart from clothes. Furthermore, due to mass production, Moti work has become more affordable to all, thus making it a hit with the masses too.
Accessories and apparel with Moti work can be worn semi-casually if it is less embellished. However, attire that is intricately embellished with pearls is a perfect dress for a wedding, party or celebration. Not only do Moti work sarees make a strong fashion statement, but a lot of brides are also opting for Moti work on their white wedding gowns for that added elegance.
