How were suzanis used originally?

Suzanis functioned primarily as dowry items, wall hangings, bedcovers, and decorative drapery within Central Asian households. Families displayed them on special occasions or used them to wrap household belongings.

Where do most of these textiles originate?

The majority originate from Central Asian regions including Uzbekistan, specifically cities and areas like Bukhara, Tashkent, and Lakai communities. Others stem from South Asian traditions in India, Kashmir, and Pakistan.

How should I care for a textile?

Protect antique embroidery from direct sunlight to prevent silk threads from fading or weakening over time. Mount wall hangings carefully to distribute weight evenly across the cotton or linen ground fabric.

What materials make up the ground cloth?

Foundations typically consist of hand-woven cotton, wool, linen, velvet, or adras silk-cotton mixtures. These natural fibres support the heavy weight of silk and metallic thread embroidery.