The story
Phulkari ('flower work') is Punjab's traditional embroidery, once stitched by women for weddings and family occasions. Patiala, and especially the Tripuri market, became the main centre where traders buy hand-embroidered pieces from village women. Women work from home in collectives of 20–50 and share commissioned orders. Cheaper machine-made phulkari now competes with hand work in the same market.
In numbers
Women in the region usually form collectives of 20–50 artisans and divide commissioned embroidery work.
People's Archive of Rural India — In Patiala, the thriving craft of phulkariThe Patiala Handicraft Workshop Cooperative Society reports training around 55,000 artisans since 1994 across Punjab.
People's Archive of Rural India — In Patiala, the thriving craft of phulkari
GI tag
- Phulkari (Punjab, Haryana & Rajasthan)Application no. GI Application No. 27IP India — Registration Details of Geographical Indications
Ways in for a newcomer
- Online brand selling GI-authentic hand phulkari
- Aggregating orders from women's collectives for boutiques
- Supplying dyed fabric and thread to embroiderers
- Designing modern products (jackets, bags) with phulkari panels
Problems the cluster faces
- Machine-made imitations undercut hand work
- Middlemen take a large share
- Rising thread and fabric cost
- Low earnings for women artisans
Businesses to start here
Zari and Silk Embroidery →Computerised Embroidery (Job Work) →Ladies Suit Stitching Unit →Handloom and Handicrafts Retail Shop →