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Craft Name: Sozni Embroidery (Sozni Kaam / Sozan Kaari)

Region: Jammu & Kashmir (Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal)

CRAFT
HISTORY

Sozni is one of Kashmir’s most refined embroidery traditions, dating back several centuries. Influenced by Persian aesthetics and nurtured under Mughal patronage, Sozni embroidery became synonymous with luxury and elegance, especially on pashmina shawls. Known for its extreme precision, Sozni is executed with such fine needlework that the design can appear reversible—identical on both sides. The craft continues to be practiced by skilled artisan families who have passed down this heritage from generation to generation.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

  • Ultra-fine, delicate needlework
  • Designs often appear same on both sides
  • Traditionally worked on handwoven pashmina
  • Highly time-intensive; demands immense skill and focus
  • A prestigious Kashmiri craft with centuries of legacy

Received a
GI tag in 2023

COLOURS

  • Traditional colours: Maroon, rust, mustard, green, black
  • Modern colours: Jewel tones, lighter pastels
  • Earlier: Natural dyes
  • Today: High-quality, colourfast thread dyes

MOTIFS

  • Paisleys (Ambi)
  • Floral vines (Buta, Bail)
  • Chinar leaf motifs
  • Cypress, Mughal garden designs
  • Geometric borders & repeated motifs

RAW MATERIAL

  • Base: Pure pashmina shawls, wool fabric, fine silk
  • Threads: High-quality silk threads in diverse colours
  • Needles: Thin, sharp needles for micro-level embroidery
  • Tracing materials: Natural pigments, wooden block stamps, stencils
  • Frames: Wooden frames to stretch the shawl during embroidery

CRAFT MAKING PROCESS

The-Art-of-Zardozi

TIME & ARTISAN INVOLVEMENT

A Sozni piece can take:
  • 15 days (light work)
  • 3–12 months (dense, reversible work)
     Usually embroidered by one master artisan; large or complex pieces may involve 2–3 artisans.