Surajmal Shobhachand supplies zari-embroidered garments from India for clothing brands. Thread qualities and technique variations are sourced to your garment brief.
Zari embroidery uses metallic thread worked onto fabric.
Zari garments we supply
Have a style in mind? Send a reference garment and the quantity, and we quote it with zari embroidery.
Request a similar style→Thread material and metallic colour
Traditional real zari includes gold-plated silver with a cotton or silk core. Imitation zari provides a lower-priced option.
Specify the thread quality and composition separately from its metallic colour. Include a thread reference with the garment design.
How couching holds the metallic thread
In couching, metallic thread lies along the pattern on the fabric surface. Thin silk stitches hold it in place.
Get a quote for a zari garment
Send the garment reference or tech pack, motif artwork, thread quality and placement. Include the garment fabric specification, colour reference and quantity. We quote the garment with zari embroidery.
Specifying zari on a tech pack
- Garment and fabric reference
- Name the garment and base fabric. Give the composition, construction and weight in GSM.
- Artwork link
- Paste a link to the motif artwork or design reference.
- Finished dimensions
- Give the motif width and height in millimetres.
- Placement
- Mark the position on a garment drawing, with measurements from a fixed point.
- Thread quality and composition
- Name the thread type and quality reference, with its material composition.
- Metallic colour
- Give the metallic colour reference for each part of the design.
- Coverage and stitch reference
- Show the areas to embroider and the stitch effect to match.
- Hand reference
- Include a reference for the required feel of the embroidered garment.
- Care and tests
- State the intended garment care and the test methods and grades required.
- Additional components
- List any beads, sequins or spangles in the design, with a reference for each.
- Quantities by style and size
- Give the quantity for each style, size and colourway.
- Target price
- Include the target price for the finished garment.
Not sure of every line? Tell us what you are planning, and we will advise on what works best.
Send this as a brief→Hand zari work on an adda frame
- 1
Frame the fabric
The fabric is fixed to a wooden frame called an adda.
- 2
Prepare the stencil
The design is traced onto paper and pricked with a needle to form a stencil.
- 3
Embroider
The work is generally stitched with an ari, a hook-tipped awl.
Colourfastness tests for zari garments
| Test | Method | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Washing[1] | ISO 105-C06 | Colour loss and staining from domestic or commercial laundering. |
| Rubbing[2] | ISO 105-X12 | Colourfastness to rubbing with dry and wet rubbing cloths. |
| Light[3] | ISO 105-B02 | Colour change under artificial light representative of natural daylight (D65). |
| Perspiration[4] | ISO 105-E04 | Resistance of textile colour to human perspiration. |
Common questions about zari
What is the difference between zari and zardozi?
Zari names the metallic thread used in the work. Zardozi is an embroidery form using gold- or silver-wrapped threads and embellishments.
Which fabrics can take zari embroidery?
Zari work is generally done on lighter fabrics, such as chiffon, georgette, crepe and lightweight silk. See georgette for the base cloth.
Is Surat Zari Craft a registered GI?
Yes. Surat Zari Craft is a registered Geographical Indication of India, with Gujarat as its geographical area.[5]
Can I buy woven zari fabric on its own?
Yes. We supply woven zari fabric by the metre, sourced to your brief. For patterned cloth, see jacquard and handloom weaving.
A question this does not answer? Ask us directly and we reply within 24 hours.
Developing a zari range?
Send the styles, metallic colour references and quantities for a collection quote.
Discuss your requirement→