Indian Embroidery

India is a vast country with rich traditions thousands of years old. India has classical, folk, and pop music traditions that developed independently of music in Western society. It should come as no surprise that when one studies at an Indian fashion institute, the curriculum is not derivative of that found in New York or Paris. Pooja Mehta was born in Nagpur, the geometrical center of India. She completed a Bachelors degree in Arts from the University of Nagpur, where she concentrated on clothing design and embroidery. After her studies she joined her sisters in continuing the family business – a boutique that creates formal wear for women.

Although Pooja has lived in Erie for many years (her husband works at General Electric) she spends about three months annually back home in India, to manage the boutique. Each sister in Pooja’s family has a particular fashion-based expertise and Pooja’s skill is in embroidery and bead and sequin work. She also has a particular flair in designing purses that are sculpturally complex and exquisitely adorned. She is a master at Zardosi, a highly ornate style of embroidery that uses silver or gold thread. Many say it is the oldest unbroken tradition of Indian embroidery, starting in the Mughal Empire of the late 1500’s. Today Zardosi is still considered an important element in Indian formal and ceremonial wear. Pooja’s boutique creates custom one-of-a-kind outfits for women.

Many clients want special clothing for weddings or other important events, and Pooja designs most of the embroidered elements for these outfits and supervises their execution by their artisan employees.

Pooja is eager to share the intricacies of Indian embroidery with Erie and will give a six-week course that covers several styles of Indian embroidery and a one-time workshop that focuses just on Zardosi. See the course listings, or contact Museum Folk Art Director Kelly Armor for more information.

Contact Museum Folk Art Coordinator, Kelly Armor for more information.