Suzani textiles at Indigo Traders

Suzani Textiles

What is a Suzani?

Suzan is the Persian word for needle and it is aptly

applied to this textile tradition of central Asia, specifically the Republic of Uzbekistan. The family and friends of a young woman join together to help make the textile furnishings of her home. This tradition can be likened to the quilting tradition here in the US. Suzanis may be used as wall hangings, bedding, table covers and curtains among other décor. They come in variety of sizes, designs and color palettes.

Traditionally, suzanis were a nomadic and urban art form exclusively created by women. Today, suzani-making is a highly successful cottage industry that supports both male and female artisans. These modern artisans are returning to traditional methods including hand-dyeing threads and hand embroidery.

Making a Suzani

Although each suzani is unique in design, most designs are derived from the same compositional theme: a central field surrounded by borders on all four sides. This theme has a long tradition in the arts of central Asia reflecting the importance of agriculture and courtyard gardens.

In the making of a suzani, several strips of hand-loomed cotton are sewn together to form the common ground cloth. Using black ink, a designer draws a pattern on the cloth. Once the color scheme is decided upon, the cotton strips are separated and distributed to several artisans to work on the embroidery. When the

embroidery is complete, the strips are sewn together.

Suzanis are prized for their magnificent color palettes, high-quality hand embroidery and beautiful motifs.

At Indigo Traders, we offer a beautiful selection of suzanis in a variety of sizes, color palettes and designs.