2 months ago
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Lucknow is considered the location of zardozi embroidery today. Did you cognize that Ayodhya, which was the superior of Awadh, anterior to Lucknow and Faridabad, was erstwhile known for its skilled craftspeople specialising successful the accepted metallic embroidery? At the 2026 variation of Royal Fables, a pop-up curated by Anshu Khanna and Charu Singh and hosted by textile decorator Gaurang Shah and jewellery decorator Pratiksha Prashant successful Hyderabad, princess Manjari Mishra of the royal household successful Ayodhya, shared insights connected the technique, arsenic she continues to enactment with craftspeople specialising successful zardozi and beadwork.
Her statement Shilpmanjari keeps the accepted trade live done embellishments connected saris and separates. Think of a shikargaha-themed(royal hunting ground) velvet overgarment with semi-precious stones, zari and resham work paired with a tunic with lions and cervid motifs embroidered with zardozi.
Princess Manjari Mishra of Ayodhya and Ambika Raje Ghorpade of the Sandur royal family | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A one-day showcase astatine Gaurang’s Kitchen presented India’s royal practice done saris, covering and collectibles ranging from practice weaves to good jewellery, and silver-plated accessories to antique and costume jewellery. This marked Royal Fables’ 3rd variation successful Hyderabad.
“The absorption is connected saris this twelvemonth since we are collaborating with Gaurang Shah who is known for his handwoven scope of textiles,” said Anshu Singh, recalling the enactment of Royal Fables much than 15 years agone to beforehand palace karkhana (small manufacturing units) wherever section crafts were the mainstay. “We began with 10 women from royal families and contiguous we are associated with astir 50 royal families. The women successful these families assistance support accepted crafts specified arsenic gota (a benignant of applique embroidery), ek taar resham (embroidery that uses 1 strand of silk thread) and tilla work (Kashmiri embroidery with golden oregon metallic threads) alive.”
Alongside saris, good jewellery was besides showcased astatine the pop-up exhibition | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Royal Fables transformed into a travelling exhibition, showcasing constricted variation collections successful antithetic cities. “Most of the textiles, jewellery, accessories and collectibles are made for this accumulation and depository shops. The thought has been to gully a craft-loving buyer’s attraction to the accepted techniques, mak it applicable successful the modern context,” adds Anshu.
On showcase were saris with borders encrusted with emeralds and rubies, good jewellery by Atul Jewellers, and shikargah-themed weaves (with motifs depicting imagery from the royal hunting) connected georgettes for younger buyers looking for casual drapes, among others. Chanderi saris by Radhika Gaekwad, textiles by Kanwarani Kamini Singh of Seohara, practice embroidery by Charu Saigal, jewellery by Namrata Singh, and Benares weaves from House of Shilpi Gupta were besides successful the collection.
Ambika Raje Ghorpade of Sandur, Jaykirti Singh of Baria, Digvijay Singh of Awagarh, Rohini Singh Gupta of Kachhi Baroda, Nawab Kazim Ali Khan, Bhumender Singh of Awagarh, and Nandini Singh were among the others representing India’s royal families and celebrating palace craft, couture and taste legacy.
