Embroidery of Manipur

 Embroidery of Manipur has a distinct quality and a style of creation. The local people of Manipur are engaged in intricate embroidery work which displays the typical style and trend of Manipur.

Embroidery of Lamphie: Embroidery of Manipur demonstrates a wide variety. Some of the embroidered items are made for warriors, which the king presents the warrior as a mark of distinction. The artisans of Manipur create war cloths which is a special type of shawl called Lamphie. These are created by the women of Manipur and the warriors use them while stepping out for war.www.mainaparajita.blogspot.com

Embroidery of Ningthouphee and Phanek: A type of waist coat, which is popular by the name of Ningthouphee among the local people, is presented by the king to the warriors of the country. The artisans of this area use a unique type of embroidery that uses one stitch. This embroidery employs dark matching shade with untwisted silk thread on the border of the 'phanek' which is a lungi or lower body wrap worn by the local women of Manipur. The fabrics are embroidered with dark red, plum or chocolate colour threads and are usually seen in the local market. The motifs of butterfly, elephant, cockerel etc are used to bedeck the 'phanek' items. The most commonly used embroidery is "Akyobi" design that employs elegant motifs of red with a bit of black and white shade. This embroidery of Manipur is done in an elegant snake-like pattern. This particular design is said to be derived from the legendary snake, pakhamba, which was killed by the husband of a goddess. This design has a circular shape and one circle is joined to the other. Each circle is further broken up into patterns with significant motif and special name. The designs of bee and petals of lotus are created on the base materials. The designs are termed as 'moil', 'khoi mayek', 'tendwa' etc.

Embroidery on Saijounba, Phirananba, Zamphie: The artisans of Manipur create some embroidered items that are well admired by the local people. These embroidered items include Saijounba which is a long coat that is prepared with special embroideries for the very trusted courtiers of the king, Phirananba which are delicately embroidered small flags, Zamphie which is a war cloth worn by warriors, Ningthoupee the king’s cloth, Kumil or ras shirt etc. The artisans involved in the embroidery work of Manipur employ designs like Namthang-khut-hut, Khamenchatpa etc with satin stitch and the Romanian stitch.

Embroidery on Angami Naga shawls: The excellent embroidery work of Manipur display Angami Naga shawls that are embellished with animal motifs in black. Previously, this shawl was termed as 'sami lami phee' (which means warrior cloth of wild animals). This cloth was presented to the brave distinguished warriors by the monarchs for showing appreciation of their prowess and ability. The artisans use bright colours like bright green, red, yellow, and white to create designs on the shawls.

Embroidery on Hijai Mayek: One of the embroidered pieces of cloth, called Hijai mayek worn by widows and elderly women and at funerals, are made by the artisans of Manipur. This is embroidered in black and white with patterns of running lines and circular movements including motifs of battle scenes, swords etc.

Mirror-Embroidery Work: Apart from creating different items using different designs, the local inhabitants of Manipur has mastered Abhala or mirror-embroidery work which they use for creating costumes for rasa dance. The meithei community of Manipur is excelled in the tindogbi design which has received inspiration from a silk caterpillar sitting on a castor leaf and eating it.

Weaving and Embroidery Work: The local people are also adept in the art of creating Shamilami fabric, a combination of weaving and embroidery work. The artisans of this state create different items decorated with Maibung design that stands unique in its appearance and usage of outstanding coloured yarns.

Embroidery of Manipur has an indigenous style to exhibit in the creations of the artisans. The items that are created with much effort of the artisans are much coveted in the local market of Manipur.

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Gadwal Sari is known for its exquisite and unique motifs

The Saree is known for its exquisite and unique motifs of borders on the weft of saree. The Gadwal sarees are a blend or combination of cotton weave fabric in the body and the borders are in contrast with gold zari weave designs over it instead of a plain panel of zari.www.mainaparajita.blogspot.com

The Gadwal silk sarees are simply the same in silk with a plain or butti body but with a design weave motif look on edge border of saree in golden. These motifs of borders can be in anything from floral leaves or architectural inspiration of motifs.

Origin of Gadwal Sarees

They are woven in Andhra Pradesh and have their motif influence from South Indian architectural designs to traditional motifs like lotus and flowers. Cotton use of yarn in the body of saree and zari in the border is what a gadwal saree is, and the use of silk all over is known as Gadwal silk saree.

The Borders of a Gadwal Silk Saree

The sarees are lustrous and have their own beauty and identity for the different weave designs on the side borders. The wit of the borders can be of different sizes as per design concepts. The saree base or body can also have butti weaves or different jaal designs like a Banglori silk saree or Paithani, but the identity is from the border designs.

The designs of the borders are from stripes, temples and coin motifs, florals, and leaf jaal motifs too. The contrasts of the saree borders are the most attractive and make these sarees subtle as well as convenient for all types of occasions.

Most combinations of Gadwal silk sarees are in perfect contrasts like blue and orange, red and green, or complementary hues like pink and yellow or orange and green. The pallu may also have pretty flowering motifs in zari and silk yarn.

The base of the saree is plain with weave in stripes of checkered look with the blend of cotton or just silk. Each pattern concept gives a different look to the saree. Woven buttis in shrubs or flower motifs all over or just a drape panel divided with huge flower wales and leaves. 

Go for the colorful checks in cotton as body and paisley motif’s zari borders, or the plain cotton body with stripes and coin motifs on borders. In gadwal silk sari go for pain silk body with zari and temple border design or the floral wale gold weave design on the border

The sarees are perfect for festivals like pujas and Diwali time, and styling them would be done well with traditional jewelry. Jhumkas, kadas, and bangles, and also malas of coin design to gold beads long malas. As the saree is from south India, the cultural style of jewelry suits very well with the saree.

Try wearing the saree in an open pallu drape or a proper pleated drape at the shoulder. You can always style your hair according to the occasion in a bun, braid or open locks like celebrities do.

 You can also choose to style silk plain blouses with these sarees in contrast colors. Go for silk or brocade blouses as per the kind of pure gadwal silk sarees. For other kinds of gadwal saree choose contrast likes weave designs or motifs on blouse if saree is plain or vice versa.see our productshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/CLUBV